Noah Howell – Niner Timeshttp://ninertimes.com
The Online home of the Niner Times, the once-weekly student newspaper of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.Thu, 14 Dec 2017 00:35:30 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.128498502GAMING REVIEW: ‘Batman: The Enemy Within’ – ‘The Pact’ & ‘The Fractured Mask’ - Now at the season mid-point, Telltale continues on in a strong second season and leaves me excited for what has yet to come for the caped crusader.http://ninertimes.com/2017/11/gaming-review-batman-the-enemy-within-the-pact-the-fractured-mask/
Thu, 30 Nov 2017 18:36:08 +0000http://ninertimes.com/?p=60403Warning: Spoilers for “The Pact” & “The Fractured Mask,” as well as previous episodes of “Batman: The Telltale Series” follow.

After a disappointing conclusion to Telltale’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” series, I had almost forgotten how good a game from them could be. The latest two episodes of their “Batman: The Enemy Within” series serve as a fine reminder on just how masterful they can be at telling a story, one that provides difficult decisions left and right. The premiere left off with the death of Riddler, leaving us wondering as to what secret organization he was a part of, and who it was comprised of.

Episode Two – “The Pact”

Image courtesy of Telltale Games

After the Riddler’s death and Amanda Waller’s reveal to Batman that she knows his real identity, the caped crusader has to come to terms with this newfound information, which urges the player into compliance with whatever Waller orders. Soon after, we are introduced to the first member of the mysterious Pact group as Bane, who gives Batman a serious beating. This forces Bruce to act as his billionaire self, using his friend John Doe (The Joker) to infiltrate the mysterious organization with the approval from Waller. Bruce soon learns that Harley Quinn is the leader for this group after Riddler’s passing with Bane, John and Mr. Freeze falling behind her. The rest of the episode follows Bruce trying to gain the group’s trust through a series of trials, one of which involves him stealing from his own company.

One thing I appreciate about this series is just how difficult each decision is to make. One example of this is trying to please both Chief Gordon and Waller, both of whom are at odds for getting in each others way. While Waller does hold leverage on Bruce, she clearly holds the greater good at top priority and the means to accomplish her goals, where as Gordon is one of Batman’s most trusted allies, making it a tough choice to make. My favorite part of this series however is John Doe, who almost has a sense of innocence as he shows a true affection for Bruce as a friend, and seems to be only wanting to please others, occasionally showing signs of what he may become. His dialogue is extremely funny as well, as the character should be in a sadistic way, and Anthony Ingruber does a terrific job at portraying this unique take on the character.

The series has done a great job at twisting your preconceived notions of the “Batman” story and characters, which helps to keep you truly concerned for what may happen, and one of these is John and Harley’s relationship. Typically, Harley is shown to be the one striving for the affection from the Joker, but this time around it has been turned completely on its head as we see John asking Bruce to make him look good in front of her during his first meeting with the insane clown. There are more examples of this throughout and show how she takes advantage of the poor guy, making me try extremely hard in dialogue options to make sure he doesn’t go down his seemingly destined path. It’s not something I thought possible, but Telltale has made a villain like The Joker someone I sympathize with.

Episode Three – “The Fractured Mask”

Image courtesy of Telltale Games

After securing the Riddler’s corpse for use in unlocking his laptop and finding plans for a big heist, Catwoman is reintroduced from last season to help the group accomplish this. Both her and Bruce are surprised to find this out, and both share a few words soon after. Later on, Bruce returns to Wayne Enterprise to meet with Waller for a progress update, who he instead finds is Lucius Fox’s daughter Tiffany, who has Wayne arrested by Gordon as she still blames him for her father’s death. Waller quickly comes in after, ordering Gordon to stand down and soon has him discharged for going against her command. Gordon is clearly upset at Bruce as he highly suspects him of criminal activity with the Pact, which only makes me wish the game would give me the opportunity to tell him Bruce is Batman, because if anyone deserves to know, it is Gordon.

Once Bruce speaks with Waller, you’re given the chance to tell Tiffany the truth about Batman, which I did and in turn caused her to want to take over her father’s role in developing tech for Batman. Soon after this we get one of the best scenes the game has had, involving John Doe discussing with Bruce how to win over Harley’s affection. This scene has clear implications on where his character might go later on, which left me anxious and wondering had I made the right choices overall. At one point last episode we got to see the inside of John’s room, which has pictures of him with other people he holds to high esteem such as Harley, Bruce and one that he leaves blank which he says he’s saving for Batman. He gets his chance this episode by following the source of the bat-signal (which I now find myself asking why none of Batman’s enemies have ever attempted such a task), which gives him the photo and a chance to get advice from Batman. It’s this moment that further blurs the line on who Bruce truly is, a billionaire playboy or the guardian of Gotham, something that I love getting a chance to explore more of.

Overall these are some best episodes the series has put out, and John Doe is a large component in that. Something I noticed in this episode is how little time we actually spend as Batman, with most of it dedicated to Bruce being undercover, who Troy Baker excels at voicing the most when comparing the two. There are also a number of minor plot threads running that also keep things tense like Bruce’s relationship with Catwoman/Selina, as well as Alfred clearly showing some mental health problems after the amount of stress he has endured in both seasons. I am eager to see where Telltale takes things next episode, even though I think the main plot-thread regarding the Pact may be the least interesting part of the season so far. One thing is for certain, if you’re a fan of the Telltale style series or Batman in general, this is a one I can highly recommend.

The first season for “Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series” has had a number of ups and downs, with a bit more emphasis on the latter. This finale messily brings together all of its various plot points for one of the worst climaxes that Telltale has put out in any of its series. I’m a bit disappointed by this, as the prior two episodes were doing a great job at finally settling these characters into their roles, which was my primary issue throughout the first two episodes.

Where we were left off last episode, the Guardians had just split off in multiple directions, which is solved all by the second act as I anticipated. It did not make much sense to have the Guardians split off in the second to last episode, as it doesn’t quite leave enough time to follow through on a good ending and leave enough time to make that event feel meaningful. The ‘cliffhanger’ from last episode is only cheapened more by this, as it is really only used to build up anticipation for the finale. We were also left with Drax presumed dead, the episode’s post-mortem even going as far as to list him as K.I.A, which turns out is not the case. While I think this is certainly a cop out, I’m wasn’t too distraught by it as he is probably the most entertaining character in the series.

The series has given us one interesting mechanic in seeing flashbacks to each member of the Guardian’s past, and this episode was probably one of my favorites. The perspective is told through Groot, as we get a look at how the Guardians all came together in prison. I appreciated the fact that when presented with detailed dialogue options as Groot, he still only replies ‘I am Groot’ when spoken aloud. This segment is one of the few that makes the ending feel somewhat meaningful when they all come together.

The strongest point this series has going for it is the characters and how well-written they actually are, which is only negated by a boring story-line, which feels as though it only serves to get us to the next joke from the Guardians. Hala as an antagonist is also mundane in nature, with her main motive being your typical power-hungry villain, and constantly staying in a angry state when talking to the Guardians. This in turn gave me almost no motivation to see the story through, with her ending simply being her giving up after having the daylights beat out of her by the Guardians for the umpteenth time. The final fight itself is fun to watch as each Guardian has a unique part to play, though it only serves a disappointing ending at the end of the day.

When “Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series” was first announced, I was intrigued at what Telltale could do with the group, especially after their fantastic work in the genre on “Batman: The Telltale Series.” While the game had its cool moments, its poorly written story and boring antagonist make this one of the worst that Telltale has put out thus far. I can’t help but think that perhaps the drop in quality comes from the company overextending itself, with Telltale putting out three series at once sometimes. Unless you are a big Guardians fan or happen to find the game on sale, I think this is one of the few series from Telltale that can be missed.

It’s hard to believe that we’re already at the halfway mark for the final season of “Star Wars: Rebels,” leaving us with a long wait until its return in early 2018. The season so far has been top-notch and has not wasted any time in progressing the story forward, a problem that some had with prior seasons. “Rebel Assault” finds the Alliance making a strike on the Imperial Factory on Lothal, led by Hera, who is up against great odds going against Grand Admiral Thrawn’s fleet.

While Hera leads her attack above Lothal, the rest of the Ghost Crew on the ground are tasked with disabling some of the turbolaser towers near the factory, making things easier for the squad in the air. The dogfight is one of the best the series has had, as we finally get to see the iconic X-Wings come into play, which look great compared to their film counterparts. After Hera displays some maneuvers furthering the belief that she is one of the best pilots in the galaxy, the squad is able to break into the surface. Unfortunately for the Rebels, they are met with a second wave of multiple TIE Fighters in a trap set by Thrawn, causing what remained of the fighters to crash to the surface. Kanan watches the crash with the rest of the crew on the ground, who then quickly rushes to the aid of Hera. Once Hera is able to recover from the shock of her crash, she sets off with Chopper to find any surviving pilots, unbeknownst to her that Thrawn has already dispatched his assassin Rukh to accomplish this task first.

Image courtesy of Lucasfilm and Disney XD

After dealing with an Imperial search party, Hera is able to locate the pilot Mart Mattin, the nephew of Commander Sato who we last saw early last season. The two make a move for the nearest sewer hatch to escape, only to be confronted by Rukh. Hera holds her own in the brawl with Rukh, something we don’t get to see the pilot do very often, though she quickly succumbs to the assassin. With her as the distraction, Mart and Chopper are able to escape into the sewers and soon find Kanan, who goes with them to return to the hidden base on Lothal. The episode ends with this, leaving Hera captive in the hands of the Empire.

The mysterious loth-wolf also makes an appearance to Kanan on his way to find Hera, and the Jedi seems to finally realize what the wolf wants. While I’m happy to see the plot with the wolf furthered, I’m left with more questions in the end, most specifically why the wolf is targeting Kanan alone. Hera’s fate would also be more of a concern, if it weren’t for the fact that we know she is still around with Chopper by the time of “Return of the Jedi” thanks to her appearance in a “Forces of Destiny” animated short set after the film. That said, I still am interested in how she is going to manage to escape, and more importantly what the fate of her relationship with Kanan will end up being.

As stated before, the dogfight is really the highlight of the episode, as is the action we see from Rukh who had only been teased before. While the Empire is obviously the enemy, it is also hard not to be drawn by Thrawn and his calm demeanor when in battle, which he is able to win this time around as I think most expected. It will be interesting to see how Thrawn and Rukh’s relationship is at this point, and get further knowledge on why the assassin is so loyal to the admiral.

The X-Wings seen in the episode bear green markings, something that makes sense based on their fate as we don’t see any in later films like “Rogue One” or “A New Hope.” Making a return from last season is Vult Skerris, the skilled pilot who ran the Imperial Flight Academy that Wedge Antilles attended, as well as flew the TIE Defender for Thrawn in prior episodes. Sadly for the pilot, he lets his cocky attitude get to him and disobeys Thrawn’s order, getting his TIE’s shields knocked out and shortly after the fighter itself.

Image courtesy of Lucasfilm and Disney XD

While it will be a long wait to 2018, we thankfully have a small independent film from Lucasfilm titled “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” which should keep us preoccupied with speculation until the show returns. This episode was the perfect end-cap to a great first-half of the final season, which I hope continues on into the latter portion. My one minor complaint is that we have not seen enough of Captain Rex, Kallus, or even the sad droid AP-5, which is understandable given that we need the main characters arcs wrapped up. “Star Wars Rebels” is set to return to finish its final season (Preferably with double episodes) in early 2018 on Disney XD.

]]>60085rebel-assault-star-wars-rebels-01_2ba0e66fImage courtesy of Lucasfilm and Disney XDrebel-assault-star-wars-rebels-08_30b3f724Image courtesy of Lucasfilm and Disney XDrebel-assault-star-wars-rebels-09_513ca57bImage courtesy of Lucasfilm and Disney XDGaming Roundup: November 2017 - What is usually the busiest month in gaming, check out all that November has to offer in new titles.http://ninertimes.com/2017/11/gaming-roundup-november-2017/
Tue, 14 Nov 2017 18:37:19 +0000http://ninertimes.com/?p=59536“Call of Duty: WWII” – Nov. 3 for PS4, Xbox One, PC

Image courtesy of Activision

Kicking off November like every year is “Call of Duty,” who has ditched the jet-pack filled gameplay in favor of the typical boots on the ground style from earlier entries. While the World War II time-period has been done a number of times early on in the series, it’s nice to see it done with a paint-job much more in line with today’s standards. The games campaign seems to be focused on your typical brother-in-arms story-line, so its tough to say whether it will be worth a go. Sledgehammer Games also gives another go on the Zombies mode, supposedly the scariest its been thus far, with actors Elodie Yung and David Tennant highlighting the cast. There is also a new social space in which players can launch each of the core three modes from, with other players running around that can watch you open supply-drops or a few other activities. While its tough to say whether the lack of jet-packs and somewhat new setting will actually make this a “COD” worth playing, they seem to be making steps in the right direction. Players can get their hands on the game when it releases on Nov. 3 for PS4, Xbox One and PC.

Xbox One X – Nov. 7

Image courtesy of Microsoft

Microsoft is releasing another iteration of their primary console, which is supposed to be the most powerful on the market once released. With its main draw being output to 4K, it seems that the $500 asking price is a bit much, especially considering the lackluster exclusives coming down the pipeline. With “Crackdown” delayed to next year, the future for Microsoft exclusives are not bright, even more so when compared to what both Sony and Nintendo have put out in this year alone. Even when they do release console exclusives such as “Cuphead” and “Forza,” its negated by the fact that you can also play them on PC. Microsoft has been behind Sony ever since their disastrous reveal of the original Xbox One, with Sony quickly amassing a large lead right from the get-go. I really hope Microsoft can turn things around, as competition in the industry is great for everyone, pushing other companies to raise their game as well. Xbox players can make the jump to 4K when the Xbox One X releases on Nov. 7.

“Star Wars: Battlefront 2” – Nov. 17 for PS4, Xbox One, PC

Image courtesy of EA

Ever since its reveal, “Star Wars: Battlefront 2” has been one of my most anticipated titles for the year. Where the original “Battlefront” from EA lacked content by being stuck in the Original Trilogy, “Battlefront 2” immediately fixes this concern by pulling battles and heroes from all 3 eras of “Star Wars.” From my limited playtime in the beta, the game is beautiful and the gun-play is a lot of fun, things that have remained true from the orignal. This year’s game thankfully has a campaign, with it being focused on a new character named Iden Versio, who leads her elite squad of Imperial soldiers immediately after the events of “Return of the Jedi.” In order to prevent separating the game’s player-base, developer DICE has also stated that all DLC will be free, with the first being released on Dec. 12, a few days before the release of “The Last Jedi.” With all of these great things working towards what should have been a stellar game, EA has replaced real progression in the online multiplayer with micro-transactions. The new star cards are what give boosts or entirely new abilities, though only available from loot crates. While the game awards you credits to buy these with each game, the amount isn’t nearly enough to warrant actual progression, especially when you also need to save them up for some of the heroes that have been locked away like Darth Vader or Luke Skywalker. While the fix can simply be to raise the rate at which you earn credits or add more challenges, its unclear as to whether EA will actually do anything about this. If the pay-to-win vibes have not scared you away yet, then you can get your hands on the game when it releases on Nov. 17 for PS4, Xbox One and PC.

One episode away from the mid-season break, “Star Wars Rebels” continues on the Ghost Crew’s arc on Lothal, setting up what should be a great mid-season finale. The episode “Kindred” gives us further insight into what roles the loth-wolves play in our heroes’ story, while “Crawler Commandeers” take us back with what felt like a fun one-off adventure from season one.

Image courtesy of Lucasfilm and Disney XD

“Kindred”

Probably my favorite of this week’s double feature, “Kindred” finds the crew securing the hyperdrive from the crashed TIE Defender from last week’s episode, enabling Hera and Chopper to return to Yavin IV and deliver the vital intel on the Imperial ship. Before Hera departs, we get a moment between her and Kanan, who share the first kiss we’ve seen from the two. Unfortunately for the Ghost Crew, Thrawn dispatches his personal bodyguard Rukh, a ruthless killer of the Noghri species. Rukh is most notable for his debut in the Thrawn trilogy, a series of books by Timothy Zahn that are arguably what kept “Star Wars” alive and relevant in between the Original and Prequel trilogies. This incarnation of the character is just as menacing as intended, and while we only get a small tease of what he can do, I’m extremely excited to see where he goes this season.

After Hera and Chopper make it off planet, the rest of the crew are forced to follow the loth-wolves deep into the caves of the Lothal mountains after being surrounded by Imperial forces. The wolves lead them further into darkness, and eventually the crew find themselves waking up on the other side of the planet. The animation that segues this transition was beautiful to watch, taking cues from the look of hyperspace travel, further expanding on the force sensitivity of these loth-wolves. At the end of the episode, we are treated to the confirmation that the main wolf is indeed referring to Kanan when uttering the phrase ‘Dume.’ Fans online have speculated to the wolf’s relation to Ahsoka Tano, as it bears facial markings similar to those of Anakin Skywalker’s former apprentice. While Dave Filoni has already confirmed she is not the wolf, I do think its no coincidence and believe we’ll see what that means soon.

Most notable of Rukh’s appearance this episode is likely his voice by Warwick Davis, which is made particularly more terrifying with the processing put on it. Warwick is no stranger to “Star Wars,” first playing Wicket the Ewok in “Return of the Jedi” as a young boy, and making a number of cameos as different characters in “Star Wars” films afterwards. We also get a chance to see Governor Price in the customary Imperial officer field uniform, something first seen from General Veers in “The Empire Strikes Back” during the invasion of Hoth.

Image courtesy of Lucasfilm and Disney XD

“Crawler Commandeers”

After setting up a temporary base where the wolves left them last episode, the crew attempt to take over a crawler used in sapping the planet of its natural resources, so that its long-range communications can be used to contact Yavin base. Meanwhile on Yavin IV, Hera is attempting to convince Rebel command of launching a strike on the Imperial facility producing TIE Defenders on Lothal. In short, the crew on Lothal are able to take control of the crawler after dealing with its lizard-like Trandoshan captain and lackey, allowing them to reach Hera on Yavin. While in the crawlers work area, Kanan also discovers the smuggler Vizago has become one of the slaves on board, who humorously believes that the crew came just to rescue him alone.

Despite serving only to set up next week’s episode with the strike on Lothal, this is still a very fun episode in terms of action and humor especially. One scene sees Zeb going up against a whip wielding Trandoshan slaver named Proach, who’s bodytype is reminiscent of that of Pat Roach. Pat played the German mechanic that Indy fights in “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” as well as the slaver in “Temple of Doom,” which this character was most obviously inspired by. The fight itself is very Indiana Jones-esque, with its brawler nature and obvious musical cues that come up during it.

The sort of antagonist for the episode is the crawlers captain, Seevor, who is revealed to be in a bloodline of Trandoshans that run the crawler. The character meets a bit of a grisly end when he slips on Ezra’s lightsaber, causing him to fall into the crawlers furnace-like engine. The character is voiced by Seth Green, an actor and director who is probably most notable for his work on the “Robot Chicken” series, which has had its own shorts based around “Star Wars.” This is actually not Seth’s first time working with Lucasfilm animation, the first being him voicing the droid to bounty hunter Cad Bane, Todo 360, who also meets an unfortunate death. Most importantly, Seth Green was actually working with George Lucas to make an animated parody series called “Star Wars Detours,” which was cancelled shortly after Disney’s buyout in 2013. While we only have a trailer to go off of what the series would have likely been, the first episodes were supposedly completed and are still sitting unreleased at Lucasfilm.

Image courtesy of Lucasfilm and Disney XD

Even though “Crawler Commandeers” may have been the weakest of this week’s episodes, it still tells a fun story and sets up what looks like an exciting strike on the Imperial factory next week. “Kindred” is also one of the standouts from the season so far, teasing whats to come with the newly introduced villain and of the relationship between Kanan and Hera. The kiss between Hera and Kanan was such a sweet moment, I only hope it doesn’t serve to foreshadow what may be Kanan’s fate by series end. Thrawn also makes a minor appearance like previous episodes in the season, which I hope changes by the time the season ends. Unfortunately, this week’s double feature looks to be the last for right now, with next week’s mid-season finale appearing to only be a single episode. You can catch the mid-season finale for yourself when it airs on Disney XD next Monday at 9 p.m.

]]>59811kindred-star-wars-rebels-01_933c1285Image courtesy of Lucasfilm and Disney XDcrawler-commanders-star-wars-rebels-05_373cf002Image courtesy of Lucasfilm and Disney XDkindred-star-wars-rebels-02_327b5977Image courtesy of Lucasfilm and Disney XDGAMING REVIEW: ‘Super Mario Odyssey’ - Nintendo takes the 3D "Super Mario" series to new heights in a game that stands out as one of the best of the year.http://ninertimes.com/2017/11/gaming-review-super-mario-odyssey/
Sat, 04 Nov 2017 14:00:44 +0000http://ninertimes.com/?p=59534The 3D “Super Mario” games have been some of the most critically acclaimed of all-time, with “Super Mario 64” often cited as one of the best and most influential in all of video games. “Super Mario Sunshine” was the direct successor to that game, and I remember was the reason I harassed my parents constantly for a GameCube. Then came the “Super Mario Galaxy” games on the Wii, taking the series in a different direction yet still remaining familiar and just as fun as its predecessors. With “Super Mario Odyssey,” Nintendo has taken its various ideas from those games and melded them together into what is one of the best games of the year. While there is a sense of familiarity, the game constantly surprised me with fresh worlds and moments that kept me excited for what was coming each time.

The game begins with how you would expect a “Mario” game to, with Bowser kidnapping Princess Peach for a big wedding and then knocking Mario off of his airship to make his escape. From here we meet our new companion Cappy, think F.L.U.D.D. from “Mario Sunshine,” though instead of acting as a water propelled jet-pack, he takes the form of Mario’s iconic hat and allows you to take control of a variety of enemies. This mechanic never feels old or gimmicky, as the game constantly throws a new type of enemy for you to possess, opening up a whole new way of thinking on how to solve puzzles.

Screenshot courtesy of Nintendo

There is an adage thrown around the Internet that the first thing Nintendo does when starting a game is making sure its fun just to simply move the character around. They continue to nail this concept with each of the core “Mario” games, and in “Odyssey” it is no different. Each world has a huge sandbox to jump around in and collecting the game’s power moons to progress in each world never loses that sense of satisfaction. Once you reach the post-game material after beating Bowser, a couple of new worlds are opened up as well as more moons are added to each of the prior worlds to go back and collect, most of them a bit more difficult. The final total comes down to around 900 moons, leaving you with plenty to work towards after the credits roll. I myself was at 250 after beating Bowser, and I currently sit at 410 at the time of this review. Some of my favorite portions of the game come when Mario is transported to the side of a structure in 2D form, complete with his original 8-bit model. Even when I thought “Mario Maker” had exhausted all of what 2D had to offer, these short segments push the envelope even further for the side-scrolling action we’re accustomed to.

A small part in why the game is so fresh are the new costumes, with most being unique to each world that can only be purchased from purple coins from that same world. A number of these outfits are call-backs to prior “Mario” titles such as “Dr. Mario,” “Mario Party 2” and a number of others that I won’t spoil. Players can also now freeze the state of their game at the click of a button, allowing you to shift the camera around and apply many filters to get that perfect screenshot. There are a number of incredible details that I won’t spoil entirely, though my favorite was Mario fanning himself and giving an exhausted expression when left standing still in hot environments. When you check the world map, you actually can scroll around to find out information such as the best locations to visit and even the temperature of the world your in, set-up as a real brochure.

Screenshot courtesy of Nintendo

This entry is probably the best looking of the series, and its remarkable to see Nintendo pull off what it can with the hardware, just as it did with “Breath of the Wild.” Even when playing undocked, the game looks just as fantastic on the Switch’s screen, furthering my belief that the company is the king of game optimization. The music is phenomenal as well, with one of my favorites being “Jump Up, Super Star!” which was used widely in the games promotional material. When the full song comes into play in-game though, it is a part of one of the best levels I have ever played in a video game, and likely one of the most emotional. Without giving away too much, it comes at the end of the New Donk City world and is a great example of nostalgia done right. The game does not rely on the trait which it so easily could, making the moments that it does come into play a real treat.

If you plan on playing this game at some point, which you very well should if given the opportunity, I highly recommend avoiding any spoilers that you can. Spoilers are a sort of foreign concept for a “Mario” game, but with the number of moments that left me grinning like an idiot, I suggest heeding the advice. If given only one word to describe the game overall, it would just be fun. After a couple years of games delivering on some of the best stories and experiences in the medium, it’s exciting as well to have the focus put purely on gameplay for a change. With a rough outing on the Wii U, it’s also great to see Nintendo release two of what are likely the game-of-the-year contenders in only the Switch’s first year, which was teased itself a little over a year ago. While I haven’t yet chosen between the two myself, I can confidentially say that “Super Mario Odyssey” is a game you do not want to miss out on, and may just be one of the best of the decade.

]]>59534Switch_SMO_ND0913_SCRN04Screenshot courtesy of NintendoNintendoSwitch_SuperMarioOdyssey_scrn06_E3Screenshot courtesy of NintendoTV REVIEW: ‘Star Wars Rebels’ – ‘The Occupation’ & ‘Flight of the Defender’ - Finally given the chance to return to his home world of Lothal, Ezra learns it may not be exact same place he left behind.http://ninertimes.com/2017/11/tv-review-star-wars-rebels-the-occupation-flight-of-the-defender/
Wed, 01 Nov 2017 12:00:35 +0000http://ninertimes.com/?p=59497Spoiler Warning: The following review contains spoilers for “The Occupation” & “Flight of the Defender” as well as previous episodes of “Star Wars Rebels.”

The final season of “Star Wars Rebels” has been firing on all cylinders, and this week’s episodes are no exception. The Ghost Crew find themselves returning to where they first began in season one, Ezra’s home world of Lothal, and are tasked to find out what happened to Ryder Azadi and his rebel cell. Ever since their attack was postponed by a crippling defeat at the hands of Thrawn, Ezra has had a growing interest in returning home to his people.

Image courtesy of Lucasfilm and Disney XD

“The Occupation”

The Ghost Crew smuggle themselves into the now heavily occupied planet with the help of Vizago, another character returning from early in season two. While orbiting the planet, Ezra sees how Lothal has quite literally been scorched by the empire, leaving behind a completely different climate on planet. In terms of plot, not much occurs other than the crew finally meeting up with Ryder after encountering some Imperial obstacles. The episode instead focuses in on the characters themselves, providing further insight into their relationships with each other and where they might end up by the season finale.

A touching moment comes between Hera and Kanan while they search for Ryder, further expanding on one of the most interesting relationships in the “Star Wars” universe. The series has done a fine job at making us aware of the love these two share, while not exploiting it in a way that creates unnecessary drama for the sake of storytelling. As we grow closer to the series end, it’s nice to have a closer look at how these two are dealing with the growing rebellion, while still maintaining a strong bond. While the team is split up and searching for Ryder; Sabine and Ezra decide to check in Old Jho’s cantina, which was a common location for the Ghost Crew to hang out in season one. The new bartender of the location is a former Imperial pilot, and reveals to the two that Old Jho was indeed caught and executed after helping in Ryder’s escape. Ezra is then reunited with an old friend from season one, Jai Kell, who reveals that he joined up with Ryder’s rebel group after he and Ezra escaped the Imperial Academy on Lothal. His new model clearly reflects the time jump since then, which was a strong reminder as to how long its been in-universe since season one.

The episode does not have as much connective tissue to other pieces of “Star Wars” media besides itself, which alone were fairly obscure. The former Imperial pilot now heading up Old Jho’s was seen in the shorts preceding the series itself, which served to setup each member of the Ghost Crew. Vizago also uses a shipment of puffer pigs to smuggle in the Ghost Crew and makes reference to how much money Lando Calrissian has made off of one, which is a call-back to the smooth talking smugglers appearance in season one when the Ghost Crew help him acquire one.

Image courtesy of Lucasfilm and Disney XD

“Flight of the Defender”

With the Ghost Crew reunited with Ryder, they set off on a reconnaissance mission in order to gain intel on the Empire’s Tie Defender seen from last season. This model is a large step up from the basic Tie Fighter, featuring things like an actual shield and hyper-drive, which is enough for the Rebels to concern themselves over. With Ezra serving as a lookout, Sabine makes an attempt to steal the fighters flight log, which goes awry when it becomes apparent Grand Admiral Thrawn is at the base to see a demonstration of the fighter. After Ezra’s distraction fails miserably, he escapes in the Defender itself with Sabine, which allows Thrawn to test the fighter’s effectiveness even in the hands of a mediocre pilot like Ezra. Once Ezra is able to take out his three pursuers, Thrawn activates a fail-safe that detaches the fighter’s wings, leaving Ezra and Sabine stranded.

With Ezra’s force sensitivity being drawn to animals, a loth-wolf is what comes to rescue the two from the Imperial patrol, a creature that Ezra later states had not been seen in over a hundred years on Lothal. The wolf shows some clear force-sensitivity itself, causing Sabine to fall asleep and forget it existed once it arrives. This isn’t necessarily a foreign concept given what Obi-Wan says in “Star Wars: A New Hope,” ‘It’s an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us; it binds the galaxy together’ when regarding the force. When Ezra asks the wolf why he helped them, the creature simply replies what sounds like ‘doom’ at first, but is likely referring to Kanan’s actual name, Caleb Dume. The wolf appears to be playing a key role in future episodes in regards to Ezra, with many fans speculating it may have ties to Ahsoka Tano.

Image courtesy of Lucasfilm and Disney XD

Something that has become very apparent this season is how great the show’s animation has gotten at this point. The loth-wolf’s model and how it moves with regards to its fur is gorgeous, and it makes me very excited to see more of it in the next couple of episodes. The sort of disguises the crew wears in the first episode were very cool to see, with Kanan’s ponytail being let go and Sabine finally picking a decent hair color for once, which I hope stays for good.

The two-episode format has been awesome for the show so far, even if it makes the series’ end come even quicker, and I hope it’s something that stays for Lucasfilms’ next animated program. These two episodes in particular set what should make for a good arc on Lothal, and I’m anxious to see what becomes of the loth-wolf given the shows supervising director Dave Filoni’s fascination with the animals. Next week’s episodes are teased to have Thrawn’s personal bodyguard Rukh come into action, officially bringing the character back into canon after playing a large role in the old expanded universe. You can catch the next episodes of “Star Wars Rebels” for yourself when they appear at 9 p.m. on Disney XD next Monday.

]]>59497rebels-the-occupation-03_087d9701Image courtesy of Lucasfilm and Disney XDrebels-flight-of-the-defender-06_c38168bdImage courtesy of Lucasfilm and Disney XDrebels-flight-of-the-defender-08_86be8538Image courtesy of Lucasfilm and Disney XDThe Definitive Video Game Villains - In the spirit of Halloween, a look at the best villains to come out of the video game industry.http://ninertimes.com/2017/10/the-definitive-video-game-villains/
Sun, 29 Oct 2017 12:00:04 +0000http://ninertimes.com/?p=59102Warning: This article contains minor spoilers for each villains respective games.

Bowser – “Super Mario” series

Screenshot courtesy of Nintendo

Starting off the list is the rival synonymous to Mario, and probably the most well-known in today’s culture for being a video game villain. Bowser’s main aspiration in pretty much every game is to forcefully take Princess Peach as his own wife, causing his nemesis Mario (and sometimes Luigi) to jump into action. After being around for over 30 years, you have to give him for credit for keeping at it all this time. While not the most terrorizing villain now of days, he still is one of the most iconic villains in any medium. With all that he’s done to the Mushroom Kingdom, it’s nice of Mario to continually invite the King Koopa to his kart races, parties and multitude of other sporting events.

The Joker – “Batman Arkham” series

Screenshot courtesy of Rocksteady Studios

A comic book villain commonly associated with his time on the television or film screen; this version of the Clown Prince of Crime was superb in his appearances throughout the “Batman Arkham” games. Part of his success comes thanks to good writing, though it certainly does not hurt to have the incredible Mark Hamill lending his iconic voice of the character to the role. He plays the Joker as the perfect antithesis to Kevin Conroy’s Batman, always getting a laugh out of the player with his deranged humor in usually dire circumstances. Even when the Joker dies in “Batman Arkham City,” the way they brought him back in “Arkham Knight” worked brilliantly. Thanks to the Joker injecting Batman with some of his diseased blood, the caped crusader often hallucinates his old nemesis at the worst times possible, providing laughter in a story that probably would not be as good without. I know Heath Ledger is often thought of as the best Joker, and rightfully so, I do think Mark Hamill deserves a strong spot in the conversation for these games in particular.

Jack Baker – “Resident Evil 7”

Screenshot courtesy of Capcom

The “Resident Evil” games do a great job at balancing their ridiculous horror scenarios while still maintaining that feeling of terror. Jack Baker is the perfect model for this; delivering ridiculous and usually funny lines while making the player still feel scared beyond comprehension. Throughout the game, he’ll come busting through walls at random, and just when you finally think you’ve killed him, he’s back in a stronger form later down the line. What makes him worthy of making the list is how the game makes you feel sympathy for him at a certain point. While the protagonist is knocked out and under control of the game’s real antagonist Eveline, you come face to face with Jack, who is the calm and melancholy man he was before coming into contact with Eveline. He and his family (except his son Lucas) were just like any other family until they came into contact with the science experiment gone wrong, causing them to hallucinate and mutate based on what Eveline wanted. He pleads for Ethan to free his family, which makes the games ending all the more satisfying.

Ganondorf – “The Legend of Zelda” series

Screenshot courtesy of Nintendo

Also referred to as Ganon, Ganondorf is a character who did not quite reach a true level of villainy until his appearance in “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.” As you walk into his chambers and see Zelda trapped above him as he plays the organ was a frightening scene at the time, his haunting music helping to make that scene just as good today. His multi-stage boss battle in “Twilight Princess” still remains one of the best in the series, transitioning from him puppeteering Zelda, his beast form as Ganon, a battle on horseback in Hyrule field, and ending with a duel between him and Link. There are even more final encounters with the male Gerudo that still remain just as good today, helping him to make his mark on video game villains.

GLaDOS – “Portal” series

Screenshot courtesy of Valve

Probably the best villain in any video game, GLaDOS is a sadistic A.I. who’s main goal is to run more and more tests in the name of science. As she previously killed everyone at Aperture Science, she uses the lone subject Chell to accomplish all of her tests of the portal gun in the original game. Her blunt and sarcastic humor is part of what makes her so great, and her voice actor Ellen McLain’s delivery of the character is phenomenal, making sure we never grow tired of the charming robot given we never hear another voice. Without revealing too much, her role in “Portal 2” is just as good, which is a rare thing for video game sequels, and is part of why it remains one of my favorite games of all-time. Given its countless sales in conjunction with stellar writing and perplexing puzzles, the “Portal” series is a must-buy for any gamer, if only to experience this villain.

Yourself – “The Sims” series

Screenshot courtesy of EA

You read that correctly, the villain is you the player. Almost everyone has played a “Sims” game at one point, likely falling into the cycle of promising yourself you’ll play with no cheat codes, then growing bored after day three and giving yourself infinite money to build with. It’s a bit after this that you begin torturing these poor virtual people, starting off simply as sending them off to work without getting the chance to eat or bathe. I’ve seen some lure their Sims’ friends into the secret underground lair at parties with the buffet table, only to delete the staircase and leave them locked for eternity. These prisoners are usually then taunted with access to a room with windows for walls, only no doors which can lead them to their oh-so close freedom. A personal favorite of mine and many others was locking one in a small room with no doors, only large rugs and a number of fireplaces, resulting in events you can probably predict. It’s we as players that are the villains of the game; subjecting the virtual characters to a number of atrocities which would likely land anyone in the psychiatric ward. I don’t think we as players are the reason for this though, only the repetitive gameplay which I think makes the mainline series a tad bit overrated.

]]>59102BowserScreenshot courtesy of NintendoThe Joker Batman Arkham CityScreenshot courtesy of Rocksteady StudiosJack Baker RE7Screenshot courtesy of CapcomGanondorfScreenshot courtesy of NintendoGladosScreenshot courtesy of ValveSims 3Screenshot courtesy of EATV REVIEW: ‘Star Wars Rebels’ – ‘In the Name of the Rebellion’ - Saw Gerrera returns to continue on the chase for the Empire's secret weapon, causing the Rebels to question if they are going far enough to accomplish their own goals.http://ninertimes.com/2017/10/tv-review-star-wars-rebels-in-the-name-of-the-rebellion/
Wed, 25 Oct 2017 16:23:48 +0000http://ninertimes.com/?p=59176Spoiler Warning: The following review contains spoilers for “In the Name of the Rebellion” and previous episodes of “Star Wars Rebels.”

Image courtesy of Lucasfilm & Disney XD

The conflict between the Empire and Rebels has always been looked upon as a basic fight between good and evil, though with “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” and “Star Wars Rebels,” we learn it may not be as black and white as we thought. The character of Saw Gererra returns this episode and very much straddles the line between terrorist and freedom fighter. Reprising the character from “Rogue One” and last season is the very talented Forest Whitaker, who delivers a terrific performance as the original rebel. The episode is once again a two-parter like the premiere, which gives the story a lot of breathing room and more insight into what drives Saw.

In line with the serialized format for the season, the episode starts off with Ezra, Kanan, Sabine and Chopper rejoining the Ghost Crew after the events of last episode on Mandalore. We finally see Zeb and Rex, who give a warm welcome to the four on their new base of Yavin 4, which is of course the home of the Rebels in “Rogue One” and “A New Hope,” giving a hint as to how close we are getting to those films on the timeline. The Imperial defector Kallus also appears, sporting a new outfit that fits much better with his new friends than his old Imperial uniform. After a brief moment in meditation between Ezra and Kanan, a astromech droid projects a hologram of Saw Gerrera, who has some strong words to give Rebellion leader Mon Mothma. This turns into one of the most powerful moments the show has had, as Saw and his extremist views clash with Mon Mothma’s confident yet poised demeanor, which falters for a brief moment. Mon Mothma discusses how the man goes too far in dealing with the Empire and civilians, which corresponds to how even the Rebellion does not associate itself with Gerrera’s group of Partisans in “Rogue One.” During this discussion, we hear the alliance referred to as the ‘Alliance to Restore the Republic,’ the first time I believe we have heard its full name on screen.

After this altercation, the Ghost Crew set off on a mission for Mon Mothma to spike an Imperial relay to gain an upperhand for once, allowing them to go on future missions undetected. This part of the episode feels nostalgic for early seasons, as its only the original six on this mission, which hasn’t really happened since late in season two. This is welcome as we head further into the last season with the fates of our core characters really up in the air. After the mission goes awry with a surprise Star Destroyer showing up for inspection on the relay, Saw Gerrera comes just in time to rescue Ezra, Sabine and Chopper while blowing up the entire relay and cruiser as well. Their short moment of safety is broken though when Tie Fighters arrive, allowing Saw to take the three on his own mission as opposed to returning them to Hera, Kanan and Zeb on the Ghost.

Image courtesy of Lucasfilm & Disney XD

Saw takes the three to an Imperial station to be smuggled on to a cargo vessel supposedly holding a secret shipment for the Empire, leaving his second in command Edrio Two Tubes on the ship, another character featured in “Rogue One.” The group find a shipping container with Imperial prisoners, all of whom are power technicians claiming to be kidnapped after refusing to serve on a top-secret project for the Empire. With Chopper humorously leading the prisoner’s escape, Ezra is followed by Saw and Sabine to a locked door drawing him by a faint singing noise. This turns out to be a giant kyber crystal, a powerful conductor which is usually only associated with powering a Jedi’s lightsaber. Saw forces Ezra and Sabine to wait for the cargo ship to complete its hyperspace jump before making their escape, believing it will lead them to the super-weapon the kyber crystal is intended for. Arriving at only a Star Destroyer in empty space, Saw rigs the crystal to explode so that it can’t be used, along with the entire cargo ship and Imperial Destroyer. With Sabine and Ezra going their separate ways from Saw, they manage to barely escape the epic blast along with Chopper and the prisoners.

Image courtesy of Lucasfilm & Disney XD

This episode is certainly one of the best the series has put out, and Saw Gerrera plays a large part in that. Forest Whitaker plays a version of the character who quite hasn’t reached how insane he is in “Rogue One,” but still struggles in how far he goes to accomplish his goals against the Empire. He’s the first character to make the jump from animation to film in “Star Wars,” first appearing in a four part arc of “The Clone Wars,” and bringing him back to animation in “Rebels” has been exciting to watch. It’s interesting to think how drastically different his character might have been had his sister not died in “The Clone Wars,” an event which changed his outlook on how far he needs to go to protect those he cares about.

Part of what is so great in “Star Wars” is looking deeply into how it all connects, and there is no shortage of that in this episode, especially in regards to “Rogue One.” Guarding the kyber crystal are Death Troopers who are solely used in protecting high ranking officers such as Director Krennic and Grand Admiral Thrawn, and though this was not their first appearance in “Rebels,” they do finally feature their heavily modulated voices like we hear in “Rogue One.” When Saw does find the crystal, the one Death Trooper that escapes is able to contact the ships commander, warning him to alert Director Krennic, the antagonist of “Rogue One” and man in charge of overseeing the Death Star’s construction. One of the prisoners also mentions the cargo was being transported from Jehda, the Holy City in which kyber crystals are being mined and where Saw Gerrera ends up in “Rogue One.” Though Saw is hot on its trail, our heroes do not know and probably won’t find out the crystal’s use until “Rogue One,” where we see the rebels get their hands on the Death Star plans. If you need any more evidence on the crystals purpose, look no further than its color and explosion, which match perfectly with the Death Star’s laser. One more neat connection is Saw’s U-Wing, which bears the same black markings of his Partisans’ X-Wings on Jehda in “Rogue One.”

Image courtesy of Lucasfilm & Disney XD

After such a fun episode, I really hope we get to see Saw one last time before the series ends, which is possible given we still don’t know how he gets the prosthetic limbs and breathing apparatus in “Rogue One.” Saw adds a lot of interesting depth to the Rebellion, and though they may not reach his limits, they do realize they need to spur things on if they want to accomplish anything. Genevieve O’Reilly reprising her role as Mon Mothma is always welcome, and she does a great job at showing even her character has a weakness when faced with accusations from Saw. Next week’s episodes appears to be taking us back to Ezra’s home world of Lothal, which seems to have changed significantly since we last saw it. You can catch the two episodes when they debut next Monday at 9 p.m. on Disney XD.

“Star Wars Rebels” has returned for its fourth and final season, and its two-part premiere kicks things off in a big way. The Ghost Crew were left in a grim state after suffering a crippling loss to Grand Admiral Thrawn in season three’s finale, leaving fans wondering how they would recover. This episode partially answers that question, but more so focuses on wrapping up Sabine Wren’s struggles on Mandalore along with her family.

The episode begins with a strike on an operating post on the planet, where Sabine believes her father is being held captive by the Empire. Sabine is followed by a small group of Clan Wren members along with Ezra, Kanan, Fenn Rau and the always grumpy Chopper. The group experiences a close call with the Imperials posted there but are rescued with the help of Bo-Katan (Katee Sackhoff), a fan-favorite character from “The Clone Wars” making her series debut. We learn Bo-Katan was made leader of Mandalore by The Republic shortly before “Revenge of the Sith,” only to quickly lose control after refusing to give in to the newly formed Empire. This gave rise to Clan Saxon as they loyally served the Empire, with Gar Saxon even becoming the Emperor’s right hand man, only to be killed by Sabine’s mother last season and replaced by his brother Tiber. The group soon gains Intel on Sabine’s father being transported back to the capital city to be publicly executed. The band of fighters are able to stop this convoy and rescue Sabine’s father Alrich Wren (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa), a key player in speaking out against the Imperial control over Mandalore. The first part of the episode ends with Sabine’s mother and brother seemingly killed by a mysterious weapon after serving as a decoy for the attack.

Though we quickly learn that the two actually survived thanks to a warning from Sabine, the other members of Clan Wren were not so fortunate, with their deaths weighing heavily on Sabine’s conscience. This is revealed to be because Sabine helped create the super weapon when she was in the Imperial Academy, one that releases an electrical attack specifically on Mandalorian armor, meaning Stormtroopers and others would be perfectly fine. We are treated to a tease of Thrawn, who discusses the success yet poor potential in the prototype weapon with Tiber Saxon, pondering if the Mandalorians would actually back the man if he wielded a weapon used specifically on what is essentially the pride of every person on the planet. Sabine then helps put a plan into action that helps destroy the weapon, and hurt the Imperial occupation of Mandalore significantly.

Image courtesy of Lucasfilm & Disney XD

This episode continued my interest in Sabine as a character, someone who was probably at the bottom of my list of favorites before the end of last season. We see how helping to create a weapon made specifically to kill her own people has affected her, and what it drives her to do in order to make peace with that part of her life. The end of the episode sees her passing on the Darksaber to Bo-Katan. who she believes to be the rightful ruler of Mandalore, which means that perhaps she is meant to help the wider Rebellion top the Empire. Bo-Katan helps talk Sabine down from outright killing Tiber with the machine, reminding her of the Mandalorian values that they follow and which Tiber threw out in exchange for power in the Empire. Kanan also sees a lot more action which is a good sign for the season, as he was absent for a good part of season three. From a conversation via Chopper, we also get a glimpse at where Kanan’s relationship with Hera will be going by the end of the season, something that I’m not so sure will be all that happy considering there are no Jedi in the Rebellion by the time “A New Hope” rolls around.

In the episode we learn that Sabine ironically named the weapon The Duchess after the former pacifist ruler of Mandalore, Duchess Satine. Fans of “The Clone Wars” will recognize her as the sister to Bo-Katan and former love interest for Obi-Wan, who was killed by Darth Maul with the Darksaber, the blade which Bo-Katan now carries with her, and perhaps the weight of her sister’s loss still. Tiber Saxon also makes the statement “I am the Empire,” a likely callback to when the Emperor exclaimed “I am the Senate” after Mace Windu threatens his arrest in Episode III.

Image courtesy of Lucasfilm & Disney XD

After its brief stint of pacifism was ruined by Maul and was taken under control by the Empire, the system of Mandalore finally seems to be on the right track. It was great to see Bo-Katan return and end up continuing on her sister’s legacy of rule in Mandalore, as well as Sabine’s mysterious past being explored to its fullest capacity. With the Mandalore plot-line just about wrapped up, I am excited to see what “Rebels” has left in a season that is promised to be much more serialized than before. The next episode is set to take place on Yavin 4, which will be exciting to see on the animated screen as well as what Zeb, Rex, Kallus and AP-5 have been up to since we last saw them. While it may not have matched season two’s premiere, “Heroes of Mandalore” sets things into high gear for what will likely be a fantastic final season. You can catch the next episode of “Star Wars Rebels” when it airs throughout next Monday on Disney XD.

]]>58921Heroes of mandalore 2Image courtesy of Lucasfilm & Disney XDHeroes of mandalore 3Image courtesy of Lucasfilm & Disney XDHeros of MandaloreImage courtesy of Lucasfilm & Disney XDGAMING REVIEW: ‘Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series’ – ‘Who Needs You’ - Telltale has finally seemed to have found its groove with the 'Guardians of the Galaxy' characters.http://ninertimes.com/2017/10/gaming-review-guardians-of-the-galaxy-the-telltale-series-who-needs-you/
Wed, 18 Oct 2017 12:00:23 +0000http://ninertimes.com/?p=58917Warning: Minor spoilers for “Who Needs You” and prior episodes of “Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series” follow.

Image courtesy of Telltale Games

After a rocky start, “Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series” has finally settled into a solid groove. The episode picks up right where we were left on the last one, with Hala securing the Eternity Forge and resurrecting her fallen allies along with her own son. The Guardians find themselves a bit disjointed after this, with a heated argument going on between Gamora and Rocket. The episode excels in how its choices play a large part in how Peter Quill is perceived as the leader, and how those choices affect the rest of the crew late in the episode.

Just as we have gotten flashbacks focused on certain Guardians in prior episodes, this one spends a large amount of time on the warrior Drax. What we know of his past is that his wife and daughter were killed, and this flashback gives insight on what he was like as a father and how much he cared for his only child. This greatly expands on what has always been a comical character who delivers one-liners revolving around his simple logic used in most situations. Around the climax of the episode, the Guardians are flying away from a giant monster, who Drax decides to slow down through a heroic sacrifice so that they can escape. You have the option to help him accomplish this or stop him, which was a tough decision based on how Drax clearly feels the need to do this so that he can join his family once more, and help his new family live on.

This choice can leave your ending quite grim, as Gamora, Mantis and even Groot left the guardians in my save, leaving only Peter and Rocket. With such a rough start, the game has done a surprisingly good job at making me care for this interpretation of the Guardians, especially with the lengths it is willing to go to in the fates of these characters. The climax of the episode felt so in tune with how the characters were interacting with each other, likely the biggest key to telling a good story with these heroes. My only complaint is Nebula’s death felt like a rushed ending to her arc put right in the middle of the episode, with the characters showing barely any reaction shortly after.

While they are succeeding on most fronts, this has been one of the most disappointing episodes as far as its art and technical side. It seems every episode is spent in a cave or underground temple a majority of the time, which means you constantly see the same purple or blue cave background. I also experienced the characters voices becoming out of sync with their mouths on a number instances, which is a bit jarring to say the least.

The Guardians seemed to have finally settled into the gaming space, with some cool story beats going along with great action sequences to top off an intriguing cast of characters. It will be interesting to see where Star-Lord and Rocket go in the finale, and how quick they will be to recruit back what is left of the Guardians. While I’m not sure their recent success has redeemed this series entirely for me, I am looking forward to how Telltale Games will cap this all off.

]]>58917GOTG featured image ep 4Image courtesy of Telltale GamesGaming Roundup: October 2017 - From capturing the minds of Orcs to the heads of Goombas, see all of what video games have to offer for the month of October.http://ninertimes.com/2017/10/gaming-roundup-october-2017/
Tue, 10 Oct 2017 22:27:08 +0000http://ninertimes.com/?p=58649“Middle-earth: Shadow of War” – Oct. 10 for PS4, Xbox One and PC

Screenshot courtesy of Warner Bros.

Kicking off the month is a sequel to the critically-acclaimed “Shadow of Mordor,” an open-world action game set in the universe of the “Lord of the Rings” franchise. Playing in a much grittier version of J. R. R. Tolkien’s fantasy universe, the game has players take control of the ranger Talion who shares his body with Celebrimbor, the spirit of an elf lord who helps you take over the minds of your enemies. The game’s combat is similar to the “Batman Arkham” series, where you can chain together a number of attacks that are a lot of fun to play. Where the game succeeds most in is the nemesis system in which you challenge a hierarchy of orcs who have personalities and looks unique to your game. As you beat or lose to them, the hierarchy changes and others will rise in the ranks and gain more abilities. One interesting choice on the developer’s part is the inclusion of loot boxes, which players can pay money for in order to gain in-game bonuses to make their journey easier. Make another journey into Middle-earth when “Shadow of War” releases on Oct. 10 for PS4, Xbox One and PC.

“Assassin’s Creed: Origins” – Oct. 27 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC

Screenshot courtesy of Ubisoft

Coming off of a two year break from its annual release schedule, “Assassin’s Creed” returns with a new entry set in ancient Egypt. The game looks to be the breath of fresh air the series needed after its predecessors became more and more repetitive. Part of the game’s appeal is the setting itself, as you will meet key historical figures such as Cleopatra and Julius Caesar while exploring the pyramids and other iconic locations in Egypt. The game’s actual combat and parkour movement system seems to similar to past entries, which should be fun to try in the new setting as well. While this certainly seems to be the weakest of the game’s coming out this month, fans of the now ten year-old series will have their chance to jump back in when “Assassin’s Creed: Origins” releases on Oct. 27 for PS4, Xbox One and PC.

“Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus” – Oct. 27 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC

Screenshot courtesy of Bethesda

A sequel to one of my favorite shooters, “Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus” picks up B.J. Blazkowicz’s story in the alternate timeline where the Nazi’s win WWII. As opposed to Germany like its predecessor, this year’s game is set in America during the 60’s where B.J. attempts to form a group of resistance fighters to take back the country. The game’s shooting mechanics are some of the best in the industry, which fit nicely with the steampunk timeline to be used in. Even with the gameplay, it’s the game’s lore and story that interests me the most, and I am excited to see where it goes in this year’s game. While coming a bit later next year, the game will also be coming to Nintendo Switch, which is impressive considering the game’s visuals and the Switch’s hardware. Fans can jump back in to the world of “Wolfenstein” when “The New Colossus” releases on Oct. 27 for PS4, Xbox One and PC.

“Super Mario Odyssey” – Oct. 27 for Nintendo Switch

Screenshot courtesy of Nintendo

Capping off the month is what will likely be a game of the year contender, “Super Mario Odyssey.” From the gameplay already shown, it’s clear the game is returning to its roots set in “Super Mario 64” and “Super Mario Sunshine,” while taking advantage of the new hardware on the Switch. Much like the water propelled jet-pack F.L.U.D.D. in “Mario Sunshine,” “Odyssey’s” special mechanic is the ability to take control of almost any enemy with the use of Mario’s new cap Cappy, who opens up the door to a number of possibilities. The game will have a spread of locations to jump around in, with some teased to have a few nods to previous entries. “Super Mario Odyssey” is shaping up to be an outstanding end-cap to what has already been a phenomenal first year for Nintendo Switch exclusives. Fans can begin exploring New Donk City and more when “Super Mario Odyssey” releases on Oct. 27 for Nintendo Switch.

]]>58649middle-earth-shadow-of-warScreenshot courtesy of Warner Bros.Assassins Creed OriginsScreenshot courtesy of UbisoftWolfenstein 2Screenshot courtesy of BethesdaMario OdysseyScreenshot courtesy of NintendoIndie Spotlight: ‘Cuphead’ and ‘Golf Story’ - Check out two of the best games the Indie scene has offered up for this year.http://ninertimes.com/2017/10/indie-spotlight-cuphead-and-golf-story/
Sat, 07 Oct 2017 19:38:19 +0000http://ninertimes.com/?p=58470Ever since the success of “Minecraft,” the Indie gaming sphere has been skyrocketing with multiple titles trying to capture that same success. With so many giving their own attempt, it becomes a tad difficult to discern which ones are actually worth your time. The following two titles exemplify some of the best stuff the Indie scene has featured recently.

“Cuphead” – Xbox One and PC

A game that has long been on my radar since its debut in 2015, “Cuphead” delivers on the hype that surrounded it even with a few delays hindering its release. The game is set up as a 2-D run ‘n gun platformer and boss rush game, but with an art style that looks as though it was made in the 1930’s by Walt Disney himself. It’s comical story begins with Cuphead and his brother Mugman losing a bet to the devil, forcing them to collect soul debt contracts from a variety of creatures to pay off their own. The character design pays clear homage to cartoons from the time period such as “Popeye,” “Betty Boop” and “Steamboat Willie,” which looks great with the beautiful watercolor backgrounds on stages. Perhaps the most remarkable thing from the game is that every single piece of art and animation was hand-drawn by the game’s designers, making the couple of delays well worth the wait.

Just about as important as the game’s art is the music itself, which also lends inspiration from the 1930’s time period. Recorded by a 13-piece big band orchestra, the music ranges from ragtime to full on swing a la Benny Goodman or Glenn Miller. Each boss, stage, world and even menu has its own unique track for players to play alongside, with it totaling over two and a half hours worth of music composed specifically for “Cuphead.”

Screenshot courtesy of Studio MDHR

A fair warning to potential buyers of the game, don’t let the cool artstyle and music deceive you in what you’re buying. “Cuphead” is one of the hardest games I have played in recent memory, which is fantastic if that is what your looking for. The bosses each have their own unique look, as well as abilities in how they progressively change to different stages depending on the damage done; this makes it imperative that you learn the tell-tale signs for what moves they’re about to do, whether it be through a sound or animation. You have three hit-points (until purchases which can be made later in the game) and once you lose them, you’ll go back to the beginning, which isn’t so bad given you have unlimited lives and the downtime between dying and starting over is nearly instantaneous. The sweet satisfaction of finally defeating a boss and hearing the victory music when totaling your score is why this is one of the most rewarding experiences I have had in gaming. My one knock on the gameplay is a couple of bosses have certain stages where they use a random attack, with one being a lot easier to dodge than the others.

When the music, art and gameplay mesh together as well as they do in “Cuphead,” you end up with something very special. It’s clear Studio MDHR made great use of their development time to polish the game as much as they could, as I never came across any real bug or glitch in my entire play-through, which is saying a lot in a world where developers rush to get their product out as quickly as possible. “Cuphead” is both a unique and rewarding experience, one that is easily towards the top for my favorite releases of the year, maybe even all-time. With such a well-made product for only $20, “Cuphead” is a game I can not recommend enough.

“Golf Story” – Nintendo Switch

Harking back to the original “Mario Golf” on the Gameboy Color, this golf RPG was one of the biggest surprises of the year to me. The premise of the game has a young man looking to pick back up the clubs after abandoning the sport as a young child. The actual golfing you’ll be doing in the game is similar to how other games handle it, with you aiming your shot, then timing it based on power and accuracy. Even if you’re not a huge fan of the sport, it is still a lot of fun to play and gets more difficult as you adjust for wind, slope on the green, what club your using, and more. Being an RPG, you level up through accomplishing quests for various people in both the main story and optional activities. The points you earn once leveled up can be spent on power, the draw on your shot, accuracy, and a few others.

You’ll meet a variety of humorous characters on your main quest, who all contribute to the game’s charming tone. The game gives you eight different courses to explore, each with their own unique theme and music. The music itself very much fits nicely alongside it’s gameplay, making it a perfect game to play undocked on the Switch while relaxing on the couch. This is the first title to also really take advantage of the HD rumble on the Joy-Con controllers, as the golf ball has a unique feel to most places that you hit, which can only really be conveyed if you try it for yourself. “Golf Story” is a definitely a sleeper hit at $15, and one that I can confidently say is a must buy for all Switch owners.

]]>58470CupheadScreenshot courtesy of Studio MDHRGAMING REVIEW: ‘NBA 2K18’ - "NBA 2K" returns this year with another solid entry in the long tenured series, though not without some glaring story problems and greedy micro-transactions.http://ninertimes.com/2017/09/gaming-review-nba-2k18/
Tue, 26 Sep 2017 16:52:05 +0000http://ninertimes.com/?p=57892Ever since “NBA 2K13,” 2K Games has been adding in more and more micro-transactions in the form of Virtual Currency, while also continuing to make it even harder to earn that VC for those that don’t want to cough up the extra cash for an already $60 game. Thankfully this does not impact the great game-play in “NBA 2K18,” which almost rids the issue of all the animations that I found myself stuck in during last years game. “2K18” returns with all the staple modes such as MyCareer, MyTeam and MyGM with solid improvements to boast, though no real new modes at all.

My recreation of Halton Arena and the 49er men’s basketball team uniforms for use on my own MyTeam. Screenshot courtesy of 2K Games.

Starting with the game’s most popular attraction, MyCareer, players begin by playing through a few street ball games in a tournament that doesn’t really have any bearing on where you go as far as NBA teams. The game lets you choose the team you go to before your start your career, which dictates what NBA scout just so happens to be checking out a street ball tournament for future prospects. After this, we are introduced to B-Fresh, one of the worst characters I have ever encountered in a video game, and one that makes me wish I still had the pleasure of knowing Vic from the “2K16” storyline. From this point you pass your teams ‘try-out’ and continue on in your NBA career as previous games. The various cut-scenes from that point onward are very much on the cringe side of the spectrum and while there are a few good self-aware jokes, they sadly don’t outweigh the bad in any way. It amazes me that they can deliver such a sub-par story-line when last year’s game with Michael B. Jordan was such a home-run. This wouldn’t be such a glaring negative if it weren’t for the fact that 2K does not even let you skip the cut-scenes at all, unlike last year’s game as well. The new progression system means it will be a long road to 99 overall, though the upgrades along the way are cool such as the custom jump-shot creator, getting a bike to ride around the neighborhood, or even the ability to influence your teams GM once at 90 overall. One unlock that I do think is quite outrageous is where you get to kick people out of line for a park game regardless of how long they’ve actually been waiting in the queue for.

Part of the appeal to this year’s game is ‘The Neighborhood,’ an open area in which you can visit stores to pick up clothes, play some pick-up games with other players on the courts, practice at your team’s training facility and a variety of other things. This is quite a cool feature as it expands the game a bit in realism, though the novelty wears off and becomes more of a nuisance to have to run to the barber shop every time you want your hair cut. The game has numerous product placements throughout, such as Mountain Dew or Reese’s Puff Cereal plastered, and even the stores you go to for in-game clothing like Footlocker. I understand it originally was for the aspect of realism as your player gains endorsements from various companies, but now 2K seems to have gone overboard which doesn’t sit right in a $60 game that is already asking for more money through VC.

Screenshot courtesy of 2K Games

MyTeam returns this year with quite a bit of improvement when compared to the game’s other modes, rewarding players who decide to grind for their cards as opposed to buying VC and ripping open packs all year. In previous games, there were always exclusive cards, like 99 overall Kobe Bryant, that required a large sum of cards in your collection in order to unlock, meaning only those who bought VC would be able to acquire them. These requirements have been thrown aside for a list of goals that are actually achievable without micro-transactions, as long as your willing to put in the large amount of time that is necessary for that final Pink Diamond Shaquille O’Neal card. MyLeague and MyGM are also good escapes from the spread of VC, allowing you to get deep into controlling a team and the responsibilities that come with it. MyGM was specifically a treat to play this year as it features a short intro story that sets up how you become the GM of the organization, an already improved tale when compared to MyCareer.

The series also makes its return to Nintendo platforms with the (almost) fully-featured Switch version, and while I did not get my hands on the game, the consensus online seems to be fairly positive. The only real features the game is missing right now are the custom logo option for MyLeague and MyTeam, and the face-scanning feature used in MyCareer. The game is graphically scaled down a bit to compensate for the lesser hardware, which is really only noticeable if you’re playing docked as opposed to on-the-go, which is the only real appeal for the version. Also a fair warning to MyTeam players looking to buy the Switch version, the in-game auction house is pretty barren due to the low install base of players the console has so far, which is understandable given it just came out six months ago.

Overall the game features solid improvements that warrant a re-purchase at full price for those that aren’t interested in MyCareer, because while the Neighborhood is a neat addition, it fails to serve any real purpose other than to add time on to having to buy a new outfit and then show it off to others online in the neighborhood. I do commend 2K on their server reliability this year, as around launch in previous games, you were lucky to even get on the main menu for MyCareer. The game-play is also the best its been in years, with the dribbling system and your ability to chain moves together feeling especially fluid. Despite its obsession with micro-transactions, that feels like is present in all games now of days, “NBA 2K18” sets the bar high for modern sports games with its excellent game-play and game modes that have a wealth of depth to back it up.

]]>578922K18 Screen 2My recreation of Halton Arena and the 49er men's basketball team Uniforms for use on my own MyTeam. Screenshot courtesy of 2K Games.NBA 2K18 ScreenScreenshot courtesy of 2K GamesGaming Roundup: September 2017 - September brings a slew of great games as we gear up for the jam-packed Fall.http://ninertimes.com/2017/09/gaming-roundup-september-2017/
Thu, 07 Sep 2017 12:00:27 +0000http://ninertimes.com/?p=57260“Knack 2” – Sept. 5 for PS4

Screenshot courtesy of Sony Interactive Entertainment

A sequel to one of the PS4’s first exclusives, “Knack 2” returns with familiar gameplay and new twists to shake things up. The first “Knack” was by no means a critical success, though its successor seems to be garnering some more support given the internet meme status bestowed upon it by YouTuber Videogamedunkey. The game is your typical 3D-platformer, with one of the game’s main features being Knack’s ability to shrink or grow when needed. This comes in handy for certain platforming and puzzle segments, which brings some excitement to an otherwise simple game. From my experience with the demo, the combat was my favorite part of the game and had a brawler feel to it, and was a lot of fun to experiment with the different combos you can pull off. While it probably won’t be making any game of the year lists, the $40 dollar price tag is what makes this an interesting purchase for the month, when put next to what else is coming out. Sony continues their streak of exclusives when “Knack 2” releases on Sept. 5 for PS4.

“Destiny 2” – Sept. 6 for PS4 and Xbox One

Screenshot courtesy of Bungie

“Destiny” at launch had the basis of a solid FPS shooter that lacked the content to hold up to its lofty expectations set by fans after all of what developer Bungie had been teasing since their last game, “Halo Reach.” Part of what made players so willing to grind the same missions and strikes over and over again was the promise of loot and some of the best shooting mechanics in any video game (which is no surprise considering what Bungie accomplished with the “Halo” series). “Destiny 2” seems to be upping the ante with this release as the game is promised to have even more content at launch, as well as a story that actually reminds us that these are the same people behind “Halo.” While the series debut on PC is not scheduled until Oct. 24, returning Guardians will have a chance to continue their tale when “Destiny 2” releases on Sept. 6 for PS4 and Xbox One.

“NBA Live 18” – Sept. 15 for PS4 and Xbox One

Screenshot courtesy of EA

After taking a year off, “NBA Live” returns yet again to try and usurp “NBA 2K” as the premier basketball sim. The problem with the Live franchise is the in-game models and animations are just not up to snuff with 2K, as well as the controls feel stiff in comparison to their rival game. Presentation is where “Live” shines but with no gameplay to back that up, there was really no point in even giving the game a fair shot. While the recent demo seems to have made a strong step in the right direction, “NBA Live” is still not a game I can recommend when “NBA 2K” exists. Whats interesting, EA is releasing the game for $20 cheaper than “NBA 2K18” if you pre-order on the same day that “2K18” is releasing its early tip-off edition. This move is the exact same one 2K pulled many years ago when they were still competing with Madden in the football games space. “Live” will also feature the WNBA teams and their respective arenas, something that its sister game “Fifa” also did a couple years ago. If the price point and one unique feature is enough to pull you from “2K18,” then “NBA Live 18” might be for you when it releases on Sept. 15 for PS4 and Xbox One.

“NBA 2K18” – Sept. 19 for PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC

Screenshot courtesy of Visual Concepts

The game that consistently remains in the top ten NPD charts for game sales year round, “NBA 2K18” makes its yearly debut once again with some new features to entice fans. The staple MyCareer mode returns with a new neighborhood for players to roam and shop for gear, as well as participate in street ball games online. MyTeam fans like myself will be happy to know that not only a new draft mode is making its debut, but also over 900 challenges to earn in-game currency and special player cards in. A version of the game with the same features as PS4 and Xbox One will also be on Nintendo Switch, with a few minor graphical downgrades and 30 FPS framerate which are small prices to pay for a console quality basketball sim that can be taken on the go. Fans can also get a chance to try the game for themselves and get a jump-start on their MyCareer with The Prelude, a free demo releasing on Sept. 8th. The full game is set to release on Sept. 15 for those that pre-order and four days later for everyone else on PS4, Xbox One, PC and Nintendo Switch (Note that the physical version on Switch is delayed until Oct. 17 while the digital version will be available on the E-Shop the same day as everywhere else).

“Pokkén Tournament DX” – Sept. 22 for Nintendo Switch

Screenshot courtesy of Nintendo

Another deserving port of a game lost on the Wii U, “Pokkén Tournament DX” makes its way to the Nintendo Switch for even more people to enjoy. While it wasn’t the “Pokémon” game people were wanting, “Pokkén” is a solid competitive fighting game that takes advantage of the wide cast of Pokémon available to pull from. This port also brings some brand new characters to the roster such as Decidueye from the latest “Pokémon Sun & Moon” games and minor graphical enhancements. For fans looking to get into the fighting genre, “Pokkén” is a great starting point with characters that are a bit more recognizable than say “Soul Caliber” or “Tekken.” “Pokkén Tournament DX” has a demo on the E-Shop for those interested, with the full game set to release on Sept. 22 for Nintendo Switch.

“Cuphead” – Sept. 29 for Xbox One and PC

One of my most anticipated games of the year, “Cuphead” has been teasing players while in development ever since it debuted in 2015. The run ‘n gun game is similar to that of “Contra,” except with a 1930’s art style, which had all of its art and animations hand-drawn by the developers. When you pair that art style with the Big Band soundtrack, the game becomes something truly special. The original focus of “Cuphead” was put on the variety of bosses to battle, but the developers wanted to make sure consumers got their moneys worth so delayed the game and added in platforming segments into the game. Xbox One and PC players will have their chance to experience this gem when it launches on Sept. 29th.

“Fifa 18” – Sept. 29 for PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC

Screenshot courtesy of EA

Topping off the month is another sports game making its yearly release with “Fifa 18.” Headlining the game is a sequel to last years The Journey mode, with a part two focusing on the continued story of Alex Hunter. The Nintendo Switch will also be getting a port of the popular soccer game, though unlike “NBA 2K” it will not feature some of the modes such as The Journey and the draft mode within Ultimate Team. This was said to be because the developers had to develop a completely new engine for the game on Switch, so that the game would be at a solid 60 FPS. Players can hop onto the pitch when “Fifa 18” releases on Sept. 29 for PS4, Xbox One, PC and Nintendo Switch.

]]>57260Knack 2Screenshot courtesy of Sony Interactive EntertainmentDestiny 2Screenshot courtesy of BungieNBA Live 18Screenshot courtesy of EANBA 2K18Screenshot courtesy of Visual ConceptsPokken Tournament DXScreenshot courtesy of NintendoFifa 18Screenshot courtesy of EAGAMING REVIEW: ‘Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series’ – ‘More Than a Feeling’ - While it may have had a rough start, "Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series" turns things around with an episode that grabs hold of you right from the outset.http://ninertimes.com/2017/08/gaming-review-guardians-of-the-galaxy-the-telltale-series-more-than-a-feeling/
Wed, 30 Aug 2017 12:00:49 +0000http://ninertimes.com/?p=57258Warning: Minor spoilers for “More Than a Feeling” and prior episodes of “Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series” follow.

Image courtesy of Telltale Games

After the first two episodes of “Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series,” I was not left with much hope that the series would make a turn for the better later on. Now that I’ve played through the midway point for the season, I can confidently say that I was wrong. While the beginning episodes were mediocre at best, “More Than a Feeling” seems to have finally settled this interpretation of the Guardians into a solid groove. All throughout the comedic moments land and are really the main proponent in what makes the “Guardians” so good, something that prior episodes could not pull off.

Like its predecessors, the episode begins with a flashback to Peter Quill’s past, this time being a confrontation between him and a childhood bully who taunts him about his mother’s illness and likely passing. After making some choices based on a promise made to Peter’s mom, we’re taken back to the present day where Peter and Gamora are exploring a temple that is literally manifesting Peter’s past. Just as we have gotten flashbacks to Peter and Rocket’s pasts in prior episodes, “More Than a Feeling” shines the spotlight on Gamora and her sister Nebula, which is one of my favorite portions of the series so far. We get the same event from both of the sister’s perspectives, in which they deal with the family drama forced on them by their father Thanos, a key figure in both of their upbringings.

This episode also introduced us to Mantis, an alien who has the power to feel other people’s emotions and reflect hers back on others, whom we also learn is the cause of the various flashbacks the group has been having. She lets the group know of the power to restore life that the Eternity Forge artifact holds, which splits the group based on who wants to use it and who wants to destroy it to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands.

One of the best things to come out of the series so far are the action sequences, and this episode is no exception. While it does not reach the level of Telltale’s “Batman,” the game takes advantage of each Guardians skill-set, which helps it to standout next to its sister game. This episode continues on that success, particularly in the final battle against the series antagonist Hala.

Playing on PS4, the episode had a few technical bumps which are of no surprise; once or twice the character’s audio would become out of sync with what was happening on screen, as well as multiple frame skips in certain scenes. One thing that also continues to bother me is the animatronic-like models that are prevalent in every Telltale game, but for some reason have only stood out to me in this series. While the engine has come a long way since the first season of “The Walking Dead,” there are still some noticeable problems yet to be fixed.

Overall, the episode makes considerable jumps when compared to previous ones, making the series one to keep an eye on for future sales. While the whole cast hasn’t quite grown on me, Nolan North as Rocket Raccoon and Emily O’Brien’s Gamora definitely help to carry the series in an entertaining way. Even with all this going for it, the series still remains my least favorite of Telltale’s offerings so far, especially when going up against “The Walking Dead” and “Batman.” The episode answered many of my questions from earlier episodes, but still leaves me interested for where it goes in its final half.

]]>57258More than a feelingImage courtesy of Telltale GamesGAMING REVIEW: ‘Batman: The Enemy Within’ – ‘The Enigma’ - After a great debut season for the caped crusader, Telltale Games continues this success in a premiere that captivates the player from the get-go.http://ninertimes.com/2017/08/gaming-review-batman-the-enemy-within-the-enigma/
Sat, 19 Aug 2017 12:00:09 +0000http://ninertimes.com/?p=57139Warning: Spoilers for Season One of “Batman: The Telltale Series” follow.

Season One of “Batman: The Telltale Series” was Telltale Games’ first foray into the superhero genre, in which they really accomplished something special with a character that we have gotten iteration after iteration of. The studio took the source material and completely changed any preconceived notions we may have had of characters right from the very first episode, for example Bruce Wayne’s parents actually being a part of a larger crime syndicate in Gotham, as well as taking the always good-hearted reporter Vicki Vale and making her the game’s main antagonist. The first episode of “Batman: The Enemy Within” largely continues that sentiment in a terrific way.

The start of the episode finds Bruce conducting some seemingly routine surveillance on one of Gotham’s many crime bosses, which goes awry when The Riddler shows up to rough up the criminal a bit. Alfred reveals that The Riddler was a long time player in Gotham during the hay day of Bruce’s parents, long before Batman was around, and mysteriously disappeared only to return now to test the new masked man in the city. After The Riddler escapes, we are introduced to Amanda Waller, the leader of an organization simply known as ‘The Agency.’ Part of the episode’s decisions are based in whether you play nice with Waller or stick with the stubborn yet trusted partner Commissioner Gordon. Making a return from season one is John Doe (A.K.A. The Joker) who is looking to call in a favor from his pal Bruce for helping him escape Arkham.

Screenshot courtesy of Telltale Games

The voice actors are one of the series’ high-points, starting with Troy Baker who does a good Batman, but more importantly a suave yet caring Bruce Wayne. Last season, I was a bit iffy when Anthony Ingruber debuted as The Joker, especially when such a high bar was set by the likes of Mark Hamill in many animated shows and the “Arkham” games. After spending a bit more time with this incarnation of The Joker, I’ve grown to love what Ingruber is doing with the character and his laugh is simply one of the best parts about him. Dave Fennoy as Lucius Fox is also particularly good this episode, especially in what is a key scene for the character’s development.

Playing on PS4, the game ran without any hiccups throughout my entire playthrough and looks like one of the best that Telltale has put out. It was a bit of a pain trying to get the cloud save functionality to work, and eventually I just had to enter in the choices I had made from the previous season on PC manually. This seems to be a common issue among players, and hopefully it gets ironed out with the new account system in use that unifies all of your Telltale games and choices made within them.

Telltale Games’ attempt at “Batman” has really been one of my favorites that the studio has put out, placing it right under the first season of Telltale’s “The Walking Dead.” The story so far and where it leaves off for episode 2 only makes me more excited for what they come up with next, especially with the mysterious nature and motives of The Joker and a new group of villains that The Riddler introduces us to. The fight scenes this episode were a lot of fun to watch play out, especially since now you are given a couple of options in the moves that Batman can use to take down his foes. After such a strong premiere and the potential moving forward, I think this will be one Telltale series that will be safe to pick up at the start, especially if you liked what you saw in season one.

]]>57139The RiddlerScreenshot courtesy of Telltale GamesGaming Roundup: August 2017 - As you recover from the shock that summer break is almost over, check out some of August's best games to help ease you into the new school year.http://ninertimes.com/2017/08/gaming-roundup-august-2017/
Sun, 06 Aug 2017 18:24:49 +0000http://ninertimes.com/?p=56953“Sonic Mania” – Aug. 15 for PS4, Switch, Xbox One, and PC

Image courtesy of Sega

Kicking off the month is yet another return to a bygone era of platformers, this time coming in the shape of Sonic The Hedgehog himself. The series has no doubt hit a few bumps in the past couple of years, though “Sonic Mania” seems to be heading in the right direction. Some of the developers behind the game were actually in the process of creating a fan-made “Sonic” game, until Sega saw what they were doing and loved it, giving the group a full development team to work with on the game. The game is in the traditional 2D side-scroller format and has visuals that look like they came right off of a Sega Genesis, albeit with some welcome improvements. If you have played some of the original “Sonic” games, you may recognize some of the levels though there are completely new ones to be played as well. Fans of the blue hedgehog will have a chance to go even faster when “Sonic Mania” releases on Aug. 15 for PS4, Switch, Xbox One, and PC.

“Uncharted: The Lost Legacy” – Aug. 22 for PS4

Screenshot courtesy of Naughty Dog

Though Nathan Drake’s story may have wrapped up in “Uncharted 4,” the incredibly talented Naughty Dog is taking one last ride in the “Uncharted” universe in a story focusing on the fan-favorite character Chloe. The game was originally set to be a short DLC for “Uncharted 4,” but quickly grew so big that it justified becoming its own standalone game. Chloe finds herself working with Nadine, a semi-antagonist in “Uncharted 4,” to uncover a relic in India, a location that always seemed perfect for the series. Knowing Naughty Dog’s caliber of story-telling, “Uncharted: The Lost Legacy” will no doubt impress both longtime fans of the series and new, all while continue Sony’s success at first-party exclusives this year. PS4 owners can embark on adventure when “Uncharted: The Lost Legacy” releases on Aug. 22.

“Madden NFL 18” – Aug. 25 for PS4 and Xbox One

Screenshot courtesy of EA

With the NFL set to kickoff very soon, “Madden 18” arrives just in time to give the yearly dose of pigskin to gamers. This years entry looks to bring some promising new features for veterans of the series, including an all new story-driven career mode entitled Longshot, the story of a player in a small-town high school who works his way up to the highest playing field in football. The game also introduces some noticeable improvements for fans of the long tenured series, as well as a new 3v3 mode for Madden Ultimate Team, one of the biggest cash producing modes in the games industry. “Madden” fans will have their chance to jumpstart their NFL season early when the game releases on Aug. 25 for PS4 and Xbox One.

“Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle” – Aug. 29 for Switch

Image courtesy of Ubisoft

When the above image of “Mario + Rabbids” was first leaked prior to the games E3 debut, many people including myself wondered just what Nintendo was doing crossing over one of its most beloved game franchises with the likes of Ubisoft’s Rabbids. Thankfully the E3 presentation calmed my fears and quickly got me excited for a fresh take on the excellent “XCOM” turn-based strategy form of gameplay, all while having Mario and company take the center stage. While it was a bit jarring at first to see Mario blast someone at point blank range, seeing the games charm shine through its comical characters and unique weapons really helped to alleviate any concerns I may have had. From early previews, it looks like the game won’t just be a cake walk through a knock-off “XCOM,” with the game producing some notable challenges as the levels progress. Switch owners can take a unique dive into the Mushroom Kingdom when “Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle” releases on Aug. 29.

Kicking off the conference was the giant EA, who began by showing off the new story mode to be featured in “Madden 18.” The mode will be similar to the one found in “Fifa 17,” which was also announced to receive a sort of sequel to Alex Hunter’s story in “Fifa 18.” A new “Need for Speed” game was also announced, a series that hasn’t quite had my interest since the original “Need for Speed: Most Wanted.” Probably my favorite surprise announcement was a new game call “A Way Out,” a sort of mash up between the show “Prison Break” and the “Uncharted” games. The game has two characters breaking out of prison in a story-driven experience that has to be played in split-screen with a friend, though the game can be played locally or online. The gameplay reveal for “Star Wars: Battlefront II” was the most anticipated part for myself and many others in the conference, which showed off 30 minutes off live footage in an assault on the capital of Naboo, where Clones and Battle-Droids faced off in their debut for the series. The game is already improving upon the original by including a single-player campaign, free DLC updates and the inclusion of all three eras of “Star Wars,” which opens up the game to a multitude of heroes and planets. The game also ditches the token system for access to heroes and vehicles, and instead has players earn a battle currency in matches which they can use to become a hero such as Rey or pilot a Naboo N-1 Starfighter. “NBA Live 18” was also shown off, and while it still does not look on par with “2K,” it looks to have some serious improvements which may finally produce some competition to its rival basketball sim.

Microsoft

In last year’s conference for Microsoft, Project Scorpio was teased as the next entry in the Xbox One family and would boast the most powerful specs in this console generation and be capable of 4K output. Microsoft revealed in this conference that the console is called Xbox One X and will release on Nov. 7 for $500. A new “Metro” game was announced as well as “Crackdown 3,” which was said to have a release date on Nov. 7 in a trailer that guest starred Terry Crews. Another solid announcement came when the company revealed that the Xbox One family would be able to play a large number of the original Xbox games in an update later this year. “Forza 7” also was announced for fans of the racing sim, releasing fairly soon on Oct. 3 which will go up against Sony’s own “Gran Turismo” game. The highlight of the show for me was “Cuphead” finally getting a release date on Sept. 29 for this year. “Cuphead” is a 2-D platformer in which you fight a number of unique bosses in a delightful art style reminiscent of cartoons made in the 1930s such as Mickey Mouse’s debut, “Steamboat Willie.” A new update was announced for “Minecraft,” showing off a new 4K update coming to the Xbox One X version of the game along with the reveal that the game will soon be crossplay with PC, Xbox, Nintendo Switch and mobile devices. The conference ended with the reveal of “Anthem,” a game in a similar tone to “Destiny” in which you explore big areas with friends and have access to a flight suit that is akin to Iron Man’s. Besides “Cuphead” and “Crackdown 3,” Microsoft has failed to wow and convince me as to why I should own an Xbox One, especially when “Anthem” is not console exclusive and their actual exclusives will be available on PC now as well.

Bethesda

Screenshot courtesy of Bethesda

While Bethesda lacked a lot of the big announcements that other developers have, they definitely had the cleanest and best presentation of the bunch. The company took a page out of Nintendo’s playbook and showed off their games in a single video, complete with an animated theme park to transition to each game. The company showed off some of the DLC coming to “Elder Scrolls Online” and their “Elder Scrolls” themed card game, along with showing off “Skyrim” for the Switch which will now include motion controls for the first time. The game will also contain support for the “Link” Amiibo, unlocking his Master Sword, Hylian Shield and Champions Tunic for the player in game; which means two of my favorite games will finally be crossing over for the first time. Bethesda also announced that a version of “Fallout 4” will be coming that is fully playable in VR, which will be interesting to see just how well the game works in that technology. We also got glimpses at the new “Dishonored 2” DLC and the sequel to the survival horror game “Evil Within 2,” which will be arriving in Oct. on Friday the 13th. The last announcement of the conference was the reveal for “Wolfenstein: The New Colossus,” a sequel to the game set in a timeline where the Nazis won WWII. “Wolfenstein: The New Order” is probably one of the best first-person shooters from this generation, leaving me very excited for its sequel’s release on Oct. 27th. While Bethesda really only announced two games, I’d much rather them keep up the trend of only announcing games that are releasing this year, meaning we’ll likely get “The Elder Scrolls VI” next year (fingers crossed).

Ubisoft

Screenshot courtesy of Nintendo and Ubisoft

Ubisoft was the conference I least looked forward to covering, and while it surprised me a bit in some aspects, I still remain strong in that opinion. “Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle” began Ubisoft’s conference along with a few words from Shigeru Miyamoto himself, the creative mind behind “Mario,” “The Legend of Zelda,” “Metroid,” “Star-Fox” and pretty much every other big Nintendo series under the sun. The game will be a turn-based tactical shooter, very similar to “XCOM,” which is surprising as its a genre “Mario” is not really associated with. The game will be a Nintendo Switch exclusive and something I’ll be keeping a very close eye on, which I did not plan on after the above image leaked a few weeks before E3. Ubisoft also unveiled “Crew 2,” a racing game meant to have players travel across the country seamlessly with friends. We also got a closer look at “Assassins Creed: Origins,” the historical third person game set in Egypt this time around, which was a location many fans had been wanting for a long time. “Far Cry 5” gameplay was shown for the first time, appearing to be a lot more tactical than previous entry’s with the inclusion of new companions. The open-world game will be set in a secluded area of America, where a cult is preparing for the ‘collapse’ of the American government. The sequel to the very popular “South Park: The Stick of Truth” was also shown off, a comedic turn-based RPG set in the “South Park” TV show world. Fans excited for “South Park: The Fractured But Whole” will be happy to hear that the games writing will be headed up by the show’s actual writers, with the game set to release this year on Oct. 17. The conference was ended with a cinematic trailer teasing “Beyond Good & Evil 2,” who’s predecessor was not very successful financially but was a cult-classic.

Sony

Screenshot courtesy of Insomniac Games

Sony easily had the second best conference of the show, and while they did not reveal much in terms of new games, they did solidify my view in why I should own a PS4. The conference began with a new trailer for “Uncharted: The Lost Legacy,” the stand-alone DLC starring one of Nathan Drake’s old friends, Chloe and “Uncharted 4’s” antagonist, Nadine. The game was originally supposed to be the DLC for “Uncharted 4” but the project became so big that it will now be its own game, though season pass owners will receive it for free. The company also showed off the first DLC set in a frozen environment for “Horizon: Zero Dawn,” and a closer look at “Detroit Become Human” which did not impress me as much as last year’s demo did. Sony Bend showed off more of “Days Gone,” the open-world zombie game starring Sam Witwer as Deacon, who struggles to survive with his biker gang in the northwest of the United States after the outbreak. “Monster Hunter World” also was unveiled and returns the series to its Sony roots, a game where you slowly build up your weapons and gear to take on a variety of more deadly monsters. A remake of “Shadow of the Colossus” was revealed as well as a version of “Skyrim” which will be fully playable in VR, coinciding with the announcement of “Fallout 4” in VR. A closer look at “God of War” was shown, the game set in Norse Mythology shows a more mature Kratos guiding his mysterious son on a stunning adventure. The game was announced to release in early 2018 and was revealed to be entirely one shot for the whole course of the game, with no camera cuts used at any point. The conference ended with actual gameplay of the new Sony exclusive “Spider-Man” game, which is probably the one I am most looking forward to, especially with it including actual web-physics much like the game-adaptation of “Spider-Man 2.”

Nintendo

Nintendo wrapped up the conference with a 30 minute pre-recorded video in the form of their usual Nintendo Direct. The Direct began by sneaking “Rocket League” into their summer multiplayer sizzle reel, later revealing that the massively popular car/soccer hybrid game will be coming to the Switch with Nintendo exclusive items, and will be cross-play with PC and Xbox One. New “Yoshi” and “Kirby” games were also announced for the Nintendo Switch, with release dates aimed at later in 2018. The biggest surprise came in the form of a simple “Metroid Prime 4” logo fading onto screen, causing the internet to go into an uproar over the return of the first-person adventure game. A closer look at the first DLC pack for “Breath of the Wild” was shown off including multiple armor sets which are callbacks to previous games, the new Master Trials, a hard mode for the game and a map feature that tracks the path that you have traveled for the course of the game. The company also unveiled four new Amiibo based on the champions from the game, suckering me in once again to buy the little figurines, despite not knowing their use as of now. The Pokémon Company showed off their Wii U port of “Pokkén Tournament DX,” a fighting game in the style of “Tekken” which uses a variety of various “Pokémon” with unique move sets. The company also announced that a main series “Pokémon” game is in the works for Switch, in the same vein of the 3DS and GBA titles such as “Pokémon Emerald” or “Pokémon Platinum” which will be a first for the series. Finally, Nintendo ended E3 with a full reveal of “Super Mario Odyssey,” including a look at the games newest mechanic. Mario can now take control of enemies and other objects by throwing his new pal Cappy on to his enemies heads, opening up the possibilities of gameplay significantly. With “Read Dead Redemption 2” delayed to 2018, Nintendo might just have a lock on the GOTY award with either “Breath of the Wild” or “Super Mario Odyssey” releasing in the same year, which is a first for the company. Nintendo had the only conference that genuinely surprised me and while we didn’t get an announcement for “Animal Crossing” Switch, they easily take the award for best show at E3.

]]>56422wolfenstein-3Screenshot courtesy of BethesdaMario RabbidsImage courtesy of Nintendo and Ubisoftspiderman-screen-02-ps4-eu-14jun16Screenshot courtesy of Insomniac GamesGAMING REVIEW: ‘Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series’ – ‘Under Pressure’ - The second episode of "Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series" leaves much to be desired after a following up on such a strong premiere.http://ninertimes.com/2017/06/gaming-review-guardians-of-the-galaxy-the-telltale-series-under-pressure/
Thu, 15 Jun 2017 12:00:43 +0000http://ninertimes.com/?p=56364Warning: Minor spoilers for “Under Pressure” and prior episodes of “Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series” follow.

Image courtesy of Telltale Games

While playing the latest installment in “Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series,” I constantly found myself comparing it to the latest movie and its predecessor. What the films have done are fantastic, and its a tough act to follow in a game that has a lot of potential, but continuously falls short of the standard set by the movies. It may be wrong to judge two different forms of media, but its hard not to when the film’s release is so close in proximity to the first two episodes of the game. The episode picks up right after it left off with Star-Lord being brought back from the dead thanks to the Eternity Forge, and the crew setting off to find out the purpose of the mysterious relic.

Something that I really enjoyed about this episode is the fact that we get a glimpse at Rocket’s origin through him trying to resurrect someone who was killed during the experiments conducted at the same facility he came from. This triggers a flashback to him forming an escape plan with that someone who turns out to be an otter named Lylla, who Rocket obviously has feelings for. In their escape, Lylla dies laying in Rocket’s arms after she was hit with a lethal injection, leaving Rocket only with a high-tech armband of sorts that she helped him to build for the escape. After the attempt to resurrect her fails in the present, Rocket is hit hard with the memories and has a interesting moment with Star-Lord, which is not often seen in the character who is often only used for comedic purposes. This layer of depth is much appreciated for Rocket, and is something the film has not quite done for us to this extent.

The rest of the episode finds the Guardians trying to evade the Kree villain Hala and track down Gamora’s sister Nebula, who is the only one that can translate the ancient Kree language found on the Eternity Forge. When they eventually find her, they manage to get the text translated which leads them back to the temple where they killed Thanos and found the Eternity Forge in the first episode. Once they arrive, the Guardians find that Hala has already been there but was unable to access the information needed without the Eternity Forge. The newly found information sees the Guardians to a far away planet, ending the episode on a cliffhanger.

When “Batman: The Telltale Series” saw the first use of Telltale’s new engine, all subsequent episodes and series saw a significant boost in frame rate and lack of glitches, and this episode is no different. This seems to be agreed upon by the rest of the online community, showing the strong strides that Telltale has made in its technical department.

While I enjoyed the Rocket Raccoon flashback and exploring more of his past, the rest of the episode did not feature the same level of quality that even the first episode had. The character interaction is there but not what you’d expect from a Guardians game, which is a large part in what makes the Guardians so enjoyable to watch. It makes it hard to recommend this game at the moment, especially while its at full price with only two episodes to show for it. While the episode ended in a typical cliffhanger, there wasn’t much to leave me excited for the next episodes release.

]]>56364guardians-galaxy-telltale-episode-2Image courtesy of Telltale GamesGaming Roundup: June/July 2017 - Check out some of the biggest titles set to release this summer break.http://ninertimes.com/2017/06/gaming-roundup-junejuly-2017/
Tue, 13 Jun 2017 12:00:33 +0000http://ninertimes.com/?p=56295The summer months are often bare for the video game industry, as big name publishers spend most of their time revealing and hyping up their titles to come later this fall. While that is the case for this summer, the games available are ones that you’ll likely not want to miss out on.

“ARMS” – June 16 for Nintendo Switch

Screenshot courtesy of Nintendo

When “ARMS” was first unveiled at the Nintendo Switch conference, myself and many others thought it was another weird experiment by Nintendo that would not likely pan out. After playing the game for myself during the aptly named TestPunch, a sort of beta ran at specific times during a weekend in order to stress test the servers, I can happily say that I was very wrong. “ARMS” is simply one of the most fun games I’ve played in a long time, and reminds me a lot of the hero-based shooter “Overwatch.” The fighting game includes a roster of ten characters, each with their own unique abilities, who use their extremely long arms (or hair in one character’s case) to knock out their opponents in punches that have to be aimed. What keeps the game fresh is the wide variety of modes, including your basic one versus one match, a basketball mode in which players must grab their opponents to throw them into the hoop and a volleyball mode, just to name a few. Characters can also unlock new gloves unique to themselves which provide a number of abilities such as one that fires three mini gloves for a wider yet weaker spread, and a glove that stuns the opponent for a brief period. Fighting games usually are not my style but “ARMS” is one that is easy to jump into but still offers a good amount of depth. The game really doesn’t click until you play it for yourself, which you will be able to when the Nintendo exclusive releases on June 16.

“Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy” – June 30 for PS4

Screenshot courtesy of Activision

After taking a brief hiatus back in 2010, Crash is back for a remastering of his original three platforming titles exclusively for PS4. The first game launched all the way back in 1996 for PlayStation 1, so the graphics upgrade for the remaster is pretty much a complete overhaul. The 3D platforming genre has seen a recent resurgence in games like “Ratchet & Clank” and “Yooka-Laylee,” so its great to see Activision give Crash some more life on his home console. This is likely a test to see if fans would want another Crash game, so Bandicoot fanatics have some good things to look forward to in the future. “Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy” is set to release for the reasonable price of $40 on June 30 for PS4.

“Splatoon 2” – July 21 for Nintendo Switch

Screenshot courtesy of Nintendo

Nintendo’s fairly new yet widely popular shooter will soon be making its way to the Nintendo Switch. “Splatoon 2” puts a focus on painting the maps area rather than shooting your opponents, giving it a neat twist on the already saturated genre. The quirky characters called inklings have the ability to travel more quickly across the map by switching to squid mode and swimming through their teams paint on the map. DLC will also be free as multiple updates will occur throughout the game’s lifespan, helping to keep things fresh long after launch. “Splatoon 2” is set to release for the Nintendo Switch on July 21.

]]>56295ARMSScreenshot courtesy of Nintendocrash-bandicoot-n-sane-trilogyScreenshot courtesy of ActivisionSplatoon 2Screenshot courtesy of NintendoGAMING REVIEW: ‘The Walking Dead: A New Frontier’ – ‘From the Gallows’ - The season finale of Telltale's "The Walking Dead" finds Javier and the gang struggling to deal with the fallout of the previous episodes climax.http://ninertimes.com/2017/06/gaming-review-the-walking-dead-a-new-frontier-from-the-gallows/
Wed, 07 Jun 2017 14:00:07 +0000http://ninertimes.com/?p=56258Warning: Spoilers for “From the Gallows” and previous episodes of Telltale’s “The Walking Dead” follow.

Image courtesy of Telltale Games

Following prior episode’s formats, “From the Gallows” begins with a flashback to Javier and David learning of their father’s cancer, causing Javier to promise his father that he would always stand with David. The episode then transitions to present time where Javier is frantically searching for Kate. Once she is found safe and sound after a bit of a fake-out, the group seeks shelter from the herd in a nearby building. This begins the journey of Javier wrapping up his many relationships from this season, the first being with the traitorous Eleanor.

My own relationship did not end well with Eleanor, which is not at all surprising after she gave up the group’s plan to rescue David in the last episode. David’s anger and need to protect his family quickly shows how it’s been wearing down his mental state, which only makes Gabe more afraid of him. After the episode is over, the game shows how your relationships went with all of the characters went and reminds you of your key moments with them, which I thought was a terrific idea. My favorite moment of the episode comes when Tripp was reunited with the group and has a discussion with Javier about the decision to kill him or Ava, which Joan ends up doing the opposite of. Tripp forgives Javier for his actions from this season and even saves his life later in the episode, which was surprising after I had made so many choices that negatively affected him. Through my choices, Gabe ended up dying, which was a touching scene but I felt Tripp’s had more of an impact after what he did for Javier in the end. Perhaps the most powerful moment came when David snaps and begins to attack Javier to which the game provides the choice to fight back or simply reply “I love you.” You have three chances to fight back until Clementine ends the violence by aiming a gun at David, who quickly drives off with Gabe in tow.

At the end of the episode, the game also presents to you the person that Clementine had become based on your choices. Clementine also sports a new look, symbolizing how she has matured this season, and ends the episode heading off to find AJ, which the game makes clear will be the focus of season four. It will be interesting to see if we’ll be playing as her next season, and whether Javier will be a prominent figure in the season. Joan also may make a comeback, as her whereabouts were unknown by the end of my episode.

The thing that stands out from this season is how much of an impact your choices actually have as opposed to previous seasons and other Telltale games. For example Gabe can either live or die, Conrad could survive to the finale, Ava and Tripp’s fates, and so much more. It really lends a lot of weight to your choices moving forward, and makes me even more excited for whats in store next season.

The game ran just fine this episode for PS4, though that experience may differ for others as always. One thing that is beginning to bother me is how the characters movements and animation resemble more animatronics then living beings. When you have games like “Uncharted,” “The Last of Us” and even “Call of Duty,” its hard to believe Telltale hasn’t made much progress in their engine since the first season of “The Walking Dead” five years ago. This is one of the few gripes I have but it still does not take away any of my enjoyment for the story that Telltale is telling.

The first season of Telltale’s “The Walking Dead” was widely regarded as one of the best stories told in a video game, and I believe that “A New Frontier” strongly continues that sentiment. This finale does a great job at wrapping up Javier’s story and puts him among the ranks of Lee and Clementine, which says a lot for a character we hadn’t yet seen prior to this season. Players of the past two seasons will no doubt enjoy this one, but new players will find that this season also provides a good jumping point into the series, though you’d be doing yourself a disservice not to play the first two. With Javier’s future bright, our attention is turned to the next chapter of Clementine’s life as the matured character embarks on a quest to find AJ, which leaves me eager for the next season to arrive.

]]>56258From the gallowsImage courtesy of Telltale GamesGaming Roundup: May 2017 - May brings an assortment of fun titles to end your semester with.http://ninertimes.com/2017/05/gaming-roundup-may-2017/
Fri, 12 May 2017 14:00:18 +0000http://ninertimes.com/?p=56026“NBA Playgrounds” – May 9 for PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and PC

Image courtesy of Saber Interactive

With obvious roots found in “NBA Jam” and “NBA Street,” Saber Interactive brings a much more casual basketball experience in the form of “NBA Playgrounds.” The game features two on two play with a mixed roster of both current and former NBA players. There is also a mode similar to MyTeam in “NBA 2K” and Ultimate Team in”Fifa,” which allows players to open packs for players and build their collection. Instead of paying for packs, players have to earn their’s by leveling up in game as opposed to buying them through micro-transactions. The developers have stated that they plan on adding more players to the roster in the future, as well as micro-transactions if they are wanted enough by the community. Players can begin performing gravity-defying dunks once “NBA Playgrounds” releases on May 9.

“Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition” – May 11 for Nintendo Switch

Screenshot courtesy of Mojang

Given that it is the best selling game of all time, excluding the multiple versions of “Tetris,” “Minecraft” likely needs no introduction at this point. The survival sandbox game is now making it’s way to the Nintendo Switch, making it available on just about every device under the sun. The game comes at about $10 more than other versions but includes a Mushroom Kingdom inspired map, texture pack and skins. It has been stated that the games render distance is a bit lower while undocked, which is to be expected in order to conserve battery life. Switch owners can begin building their dream home when “Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition” releases on May 11.

“Injustice 2” – May 16 for PS4 and Xbox One

Screenshot courtesy of NetherRealm Studios

The sequel to the well received fighting game based in the DC Universe, “Injustice 2” brings similar gameplay, an intriguing new costume system and an expansive roster of characters. Loot drops have been added to this entry and allow players to swap out certain pieces on the character’s costumes, meaning there will be a micro-transaction system; a trend that many developers have followed since seeing the success in most sports games and “Call of Duty.” The new campaign also follows Batman and his attempt to rebuild society following the aftermath of the previous game, now with Gorilla Grodd and his army opposing him. Fans can begin to bonk, whack and kapow their foes when “Injustice 2” releases on May 16 (Where’s that Adam West Batman skin NetherRealm?).

“Call of Duty: Black Ops 3: Zombies Chronicles DLC” – May 16 for PS4

Probably my most anticipated release of the month; a fifth DLC releasing for “Call of Duty: Black Ops 3” which includes eight of the best Zombies maps from Treyarch’s previous games. The remastered maps chosen include the very first map Nacht Der Untoten, as well as Moon and Origins, two of the most beloved maps by the Zombies community. It’s worth noting that the DLC is not a part of the season pass so everyone will have to fork over the $30 for the maps if you’re interested. If you’re a fan of Treyarch’s Zombies mode, then this DLC will likely not disappoint. Fans will have their chance to experience the entire Zombies story-line when the DLC releases on May 16 for PS4, and a month later for Xbox One and PC.

]]>56026NBA PlaygroundsImage courtesy of Saber InteractiveMinecraft-Nintendo-Switch-Edition-Mojang-MinecraftScreenshot courtesy of MojangInjustice 2Screenshot courtesy of NetherRealm StudiosGAMING REVIEW: ‘The Walking Dead: A New Frontier’ – ‘Thicker Than Water’ - With David being faced with execution, Javier and gang must quickly formulate a plan to stop Joan and The New Frontier.http://ninertimes.com/2017/05/gaming-review-the-walking-dead-a-new-frontier-thicker-than-water/
Wed, 03 May 2017 12:00:36 +0000http://ninertimes.com/?p=55982Warning: Spoilers for “Thicker Than Water” and previous episodes of Telltale’s “The Walking Dead” follow.

Image courtesy of Telltale Games

Up until this episode, season three of Telltale’s “The Walking Dead” has not felt like it has been quite on the same level as its predecessors. The first three episodes were all fine, but “Thicker Than Water” brings the tough decisions and heavy repercussions of prior choices that the earlier two seasons both had. The episode starts off with a flashback to Javier and his brother David at batting cages years before the outbreak, as we see David’s anger build and his longing for the military once more. It does a good job at showing the tight bond the two brothers share despite their quarrels, more specifically Javier depending on how you choose the scene to play out.

Back in real-time, Javier finds himself escaping the custody of The New Frontier with the help of Gabe right after David is taken in for ‘questioning’ by Joan. The rest of the episode is spent in preparation for the group to save David from his execution, though things go awry within the group itself right before the plan takes place. One of my favorite moments from the episode is Dr. Lingard’s death, who wants to be put to sleep by either Javier or Clementine in exchange for the location of AJ. Yuri Lowenthal has done a great job at portraying the sleazy yet pitiful Dr. Lingard, and his final scene was one of the most powerful moments this season. Javier and Kate’s relationship was also taken many steps forward depending on your choice, only to have her fate left unknown after all of the chaos at the end of the episode.

Gabe has certainly not been at the top of my list for favorite characters this season, and his outburst to the group in revealing that I chose to kill Conrad did not help his situation either. From what I’ve seen online, Conrad could have lived to this current episode as a key player and though I don’t regret my decision, it’s nice to see Telltale do this as they usually just find another way to kill of the character soon after. This knowledge being revealed to Tripp also made the final choice to kill either him or Ava all the more heavier, especially since Joan does the opposite of your choosing, mine being Ava. Now that Tripp knows Javier killed his friend, chose to have him executed and gave him some faulty relationship advice with Eleanor, it will be interesting to see how the two’s relationship will play out in the finale.

This episode also might have been the funniest of the season, my favorite moment being Javier awkwardly explaining to Clementine what her bleeding means and how it signifies her growing up. I also want to commend who ever wrote the dialogue options for this episode, more specifically the ones pointed towards at Gabe and his cocky attitude this episode. Humor has usually been scarce all three seasons but when its there, it really works well; example being Kenny hinting at Lee being able to pick a lock because he’s ‘urban’ back in season one.

While this has been my favorite episode of the season thus far, I noticed a plot hole that didn’t detract from my love of the episode significantly but still was stuck in my mind afterwards. Eleanor betrays the group by alerting Joan to their plan in exchange for sanctuary, yet she still acts surprised when I choose for Tripp to die, even though it was her fault he was there in the first place. Maybe she didn’t know what Joan had planned, but if you care about him you certainly don’t rat him out to the lady you know is crazy.

Overall the few powerful moments and exciting climax are what really push this episode to the top. “Thicker Than Water” also expands on Javier’s close relationships with Kate and his brother David, making the choice to move ahead in Javier’s relationship with Kate all the more difficult. The episode definitely keeps up the trend of cliffhangers, leaving Kate’s fate up in the air and the horde breaking into the settlement will make the wait for the season finale all the more difficult.

I don’t really consider myself to be a big music fan, but this year I foung myself captivated by an up-and-coming artist named Jon Bellion. Several months ago, I downloaded his latest album, “The Human Condition,” and I have listened to it nearly every day. His music transcends genres, with each song feeling completely different than the last. The plethora of different instruments used, combined with Bellion’s voice, make the songs on the album incredibly catchy. I almost always listen to “The Human Condition” while driving, but also on study breaks, as the album has proved to be a great aid for destressing.

Photo by Jorge Royan.

Stephanie Trefzger- Assistant A&E Editor

The thing I discovered this year was organ music. Okay, I knew about it before, but this was the first year I really learned to appreciate it. And how could I not; it’s an instrument literally designed to emulate practically every other instrument. It’s the BOGO deal of the instrument world. Not to mention the ability musicians need to have in order to use the buttons, keyboards and pedals that make the instrument work, all at once. It’s mind boggling. And finally, some of the best composers in history composed for the organ: Bach, Mendelssohn, Mozart and my personal favorite, Max Reger. I was lucky to have a friend introduce me to the organ and change my life in that way (among others), and I hope I can do the same for someone else.

Photo courtesy of Harvest Records.

Tyler Trudeau- Staff Writer

One of the most memorable bands I discovered this year was the English indie pop group, Glass Animals. Quickly entrancing me with their 2016 album, “How to Be a Human Being,” the intriguing synth-pop-meets-alternative-rock captivated me as they took influence from some of my favorite artists like alt-J, Broken Bells, and Chet Faker. Still at the top of my Spotify playlist, the hit songs “Life Itself” and “Season 2 Episode 3” take me out of all the stress of college and send me down a psychedelic avenue of fantastically-addictive music. I’m still waiting for the chance to see these guys live in concert.

Photo courtesy of Nintendo.

Noah Howell- Staff Writer

As someone who has played and owns every game from “The Legend of Zelda,” I was pretty much sold on “Breath of the Wild” as soon as it was announced as the first open-world entry in the series. Despite that, I was not aboard the hype train until the last trailer was shown at the end of the Nintendo Switch press conference back in January. The trailer hit all the right beats in music, visuals, and at teasing the story for the game, which sent me into a craze for any gameplay or analysis video related to “Breath of the Wild” for the better part of a month. The game’s release perfectly coincided with the start of spring break, so when I wasn’t hanging out with friends from high school, I was playing “Breath of the Wild” pretty much anywhere thanks to the portability of the Switch. It amazes me that a game of its size and incredible detail can even be taken on the go in the first place. Needless to say, “Breath of the Wild” exceeded my expectations and is one that I think every gamer should give a shot at some point in their life.

Photo courtesy of Summit Entertainment.

Elissa Miller- Staff Writer

Call it cliche or overrated, but this past year I fell deeply in love with a movie called “La La Land.” I have an unabashed love of musicals, including the classic cinematic ones. I can name phases of my life in which I watched “Hello Dolly” and “Meet Me in St. Louis” on repeat. “La La Land” manages to be both reminiscent of these classics and completely new at the same time. The music and dance numbers are beautiful and catchy; I bought the soundtrack less than twenty-four hours after seeing the film. Not only that, but the movie looks absolutely gorgeous. It might be a little overhyped at this point, but in all honesty, if you haven’t seen “La La Land” yet, you really should. It’ll stay with you for hours after it ends.

]]>55914066d84271dda51144fae6a17eb96181b.1000x1000x1Album art courtesy of Capitol/Visionary Records.Musical instruments pipe organ detailPhoto by Jorge Royan.Life-Itself-screenshot-3-Glass-AnimalsPhoto courtesy of Harvest Records.8a8f775f88ba3fb23a70afa483d89c6fPhoto courtesy of Nintendo.JNR_077_laLaLandPhoto courtesy of Summit Entertainment.GAMING REVIEW: ‘Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series’ – ‘Tangled Up in Blue’ - Telltale kicks off its newest series with mystery, thrills and more importantly, Groot.http://ninertimes.com/2017/04/gaming-review-guardians-of-the-galaxy-the-telltale-series-tangled-up-in-blue/
Thu, 27 Apr 2017 12:00:00 +0000http://ninertimes.com/?p=55721Warning: Minor spoilers for the first episode of “Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series” follow.

Screenshot courtesy of Telltale Games

After having a chance to play in DC’s universe with “Batman: The Telltale Series,” Telltale Games makes their debut with Marvel in “Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series.” For newcomers, the game is released in five episodes with a larger emphasis put on crafting out your own story rather then real gameplay. The series is not a part of the larger MCU, allowing Telltale more freedom in creating the story that they want for the Guardians. If you’ve read the comics or have seen the great movie based on the group, then you’ll know that they’re comprised of Peter Quill (A.K.A. Star-Lord), Gamora, Drax the Destroyer, Rocket and the comical Groot. The series premiere did a nice job at introducing the cast to newcomers, as well as hooking players in to what will likely be a simply fun season.

The plot circles around the Guardians killing a very important villain in the Marvel Universe early in the episode, one that the films have been teasing for quite sometime, and how they deal with the repercussions throughout. The main problem is keeping the crew happy as Star-Lord, all of whom often have conflicting interests in the groups matters. It was a bit jarring to see a Star-Lord not in the image or voice of Chris Pratt, who plays the character so well on screen, though the rest of the cast does a great job in their roles. Rocket Raccoon is the one who really steals the show thanks to the excellent performance given from Nolan North, as well as his counterpart Groot. Unlike Telltale’s previous series, the game carries a much lighter tone with its humor and 80’s soundtrack. When the game is serious, it does a nice job at reminding the Guardians that it’s not all fun and games in their adventures. We see flashbacks to Peter’s life on Earth with his mother thanks to the mysterious new relic called the Eternity Forge, which will likely be a key component in later episodes.

Just like all Telltale games, the action sequences are nothing more than quick time events that rely on players simply hitting the correct button at the right time. The fights themselves are very well done as they take advantage of each guardian’s abilities, especially in the fight against the big baddie of the episode. Given the quality of the big fights from “Batman: The Telltale Series,” there is likely to be even more in store for the rest of the series in terms of combat.

There is always the technical aspect to take into factor when reviewing Telltale games, even after their big ‘update’ to the engine before the “Batman” series. Visually, the game looks great and right at home in the comic book style visuals. The game performed well on PS4 as I did not experience any crashes or big framerate issues, bugs that often plague all of Telltale’s games.

“Tangled Up in Blue” sets up Telltale’s newest series in a nice way; wrapping up the episodes self-contained story while leaving the door of intrigue open for its successor without a huge cliff-hanger like other series. Similar to what I said in my review for the latest episode in Telltale’s “The Walking Dead,” I don’t see any reason to pick the game up right away unless you’re a big Marvel fan as the game will likely be on sale once all five episodes are released. Overall I am looking forward to the next entry in the series, mostly to learn more about the Eternity Forge and hear more from the dynamic duo of Rocket and Groot.

]]>55721guardians_of_the_galaxy_telltaleScreenshot courtesy of Telltale GamesStar Wars Celebration Orlando 2017 News Wrap-Up - Star Wars Celebration Orlando celebrates the 40th anniversary of the franchise by showcasing old and upcoming films, tv shows and videogames.http://ninertimes.com/2017/04/star-wars-celebration-orlando-2017-news-wrap-up/
Thu, 20 Apr 2017 20:00:42 +0000http://ninertimes.com/?p=55513Star Wars Celebration is a time that fans from across the globe can come together and celebrate their love for the massive franchise. This year’s event marks the 40th anniversary for “Star Wars” and brought big news in terms of its films, shows, games and much more.

“40 Years of Star Wars” Panel

Kicking off the celebration was a panel featuring the creator himself, George Lucas, as well as other major actors and figures from the saga. The panel, hosted by Warwick Davis (Wicket the Ewok), includes insight on what is was like working on the films from major players such as Ian McDiarmid (The Emperor), Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) and many more. Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker) also made his return to the celebration scene after fifteen years and shared his story of finding it hard to stop making lightsaber sound effects while shooting his fights in Episode’s II and III. A surprise to everyone watching was Harrison Ford’s arrival on stage, making his first ever Star Wars Celebration appearance. The daughter of the late Carrie Fisher, Billie Lourd, spoke a few words on what the films meant to her mother and presented a tribute video dedicated to her. Wrapping up the panel was a performance by the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by the fantastic John Williams, to whom George referred to as the ‘secret sauce’ of “Star Wars.” The panel was an excellent start to the Celebration and you can check it out for yourself here.

“Star Wars: The Last Jedi” Panel

While the panel for “The Last Jedi” did not reveal much, the poster and teaser trailer were more than enough to satisfy fans. We did learn from the panel about the new character Rose (Kelly Marie Tran), a mechanic for the Resistance who is said to join Finn on his adventure for the film. Mark Hamill also stated that Luke may not be the person that Rey was expecting to find, a sort of ‘never meet your hero’ scenario. The trailer gives us glimpses at some of the worlds that we can expect to visit in the film as well as some familiar faces. Throughout the start of the trailer you can hear faint voices coming from Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda and Leia which is very reminiscent of Rey’s vision in “The Force Awakens.” We get one specific shot on a shelf of books, one of which dons a symbol commonly associated with the Jedi which leads many to theorize that the book is “the Journal of the Whills.” One moment of the trailer shows some new type of speeders, which give off some strong pod-racing vibes, heading towards what appear to be Imperial Walkers. Finn is shown to be in some type of medical tube and Poe is seen with BB-8 running from his X-Wing exploding once again. A brief look at a space battle is shown, one that looks much more comparable to the fight in “Rogue One” than the in “The Force Awakens.”

Kylo Ren’s helmet is shown in pieces, hinting that he may acquire a new one or get rid of it altogether so that he can show off his new scar. It has been rumored that Hayden Christensen might return as Anakin’s force ghost in the film, either to speak with Luke or talk some sense into Kylo. This rumor is given more weight considering his sudden return to the celebration scene after all these years. We also see what could be a flashback to Luke watching his temple being burned to the ground by Kylo, which perhaps is what pushes him to make his bold statement at the end of the trailer that it’s time for the Jedi to end. It’s a long shot, but maybe Luke will make some reference to his fathers apprentice Ahsoka Tano who left the Jedi Order but still practiced the light side of The Force. We have also learned in “Star Wars Rebels” from The Bendu that The Force extends past the constraints of both the Jedi and Sith code. “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” is set to release in theaters this year on Dec. 15.

“Star Wars Rebels Season Four” Panel

This was probably my favorite panel of the event and featured the trailer I was most looking forward to. Show producer Dave Filoni revealed at the panel that season four of “Star Wars Rebels” will be its last one, allowing him to end the show on his own terms unlike “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” which had about two more seasons planned before the Disney acquisition. It’s worth noting that he stated there will be another show, which I predict will take place during the large period of time left open between “Return of the Jedi” and “The Force Awakens.” The biggest reveal from the trailer was that Grand Admiral Thrawn’s personal bodyguard and assassin Rukh (Warwick Davis) from the old expanded universe will make his debut this season. I speculated in my review for “Legacy of Mandalore” that Bo-Katan would return and be the one to help unite Mandalore with the use of the Darksaber, and sure enough she can be seen a few times in the trailer. Dave Filoni has a known affinity for wolves and it seems he is getting his wish with what looks like a giant wolf being ridden by Ezra and an unconscious Sabine. During the panel Dave was wearing a shirt with ‘Ahsoka lives?’ written on it but was switched to ‘Ahsoka lives!’ after they debuted the new trailer, teasing fans about the return of a fan-favorite character. Mon Mothma and Saw Gerrera will also return this season with Genevieve O’Reilly and Forest Whitaker reprising their roles respectively. The two’s uneasy relationship will likely be explored and may explain Mon Mothma’s reason for distancing herself from the extremist in “Rogue One.”

The season will have fifteen episodes and is said to be a much more serialized format, meaning the episodes will be one big continuous arc as opposed to previous seasons. A select few at Celebration were able to see the first episode of the season and it appears to be focused on Sabine and her struggle to unite the people of Mandalore. I am interested to see how Kanan and Ezra’s characters will play out by the end, as it does not make sense for two Jedi to be hanging around Yavin base when Luke arrives in “A New Hope” considering we’re about a year or two out from its events. If I could choose one thing to happen this season, it would be for an interaction between Vader (James Earl Jones) and Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen) to occur, solely because of their prominence in the Empire and given how distinct their voice actor’s vocal chords are. The show will return for it final season this fall on Disney XD.

“Star Wars Battlefront II” Panel

The new trailer for “Battlefront 2” revealed at the panel looks to fix most of the problems I had with its predecessor back in 2015. The trailer promises a new campaign that takes place after the second Death Star is destroyed and has you play as Iden Versio, an Imperial Commander of Inferno Squadron. The campaign is confirmed to be canon, which means it will be officially a part of the larger “Star Wars” mythos. There will also be a tie-in novel, releasing July 25, that will feature Inferno Squad and explore what they were up to following the aftermath of “Rogue One” and “A New Hope.” What I’m most excited about is that the multiplayer will span across all three eras and feature the wealth of iconic locations, technology and characters. There will also be multiple classes to choose from, which you can than upgrade the more you play. EA has also confirmed that there will be no season pass for the game, which could mean that the DLC will be free or they may have some other system up their sleeve. “Star Wars Battlefront II” will release on November 17 of this year.

“Heroines of Star Wars” Panel

Announced the night before Celebration began, “Forces of Destiny” is a series of 2-D shorts focused around the heroines of the saga and some of their adventures outside the films. The panel featured Dave Filoni, Ashley Eckstein (Ahsoka Tano), Tiya Sircar (Sabine Wren) and surprise guest Daisy Ridley (Rey) to discuss what it was like working on the show. Felicity Jones will also return as Jyn Erso in stories set before the events of “Rogue One,” as well as Lupita Nyong’o to narrate the shorts as her character Maz Kanata. Some shorts will feature crossovers with characters though remain based in canon, for example Hera Syndulla (Vanessa Marshall) from “Star Wars Rebels” will work with Princess Leia (Shelby Young) and Han during the attack on Endor. It will also be a bit of a mini “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” reunion for some shorts based in the prequel era with Matt Lanter returning to voice Anakin Skywalker, Catherine Taber as Padmé Amidala and the aforementioned Ashley Eckstein as Ahsoka Tano. It will be interesting to see how the shorts play out and how much of an impact they’ll have on the characters, especially considering the amount of stories they can tell given the timeline they’re working with. The first eight shorts will release on YouTube in July, with eight more coming in the fall for a special on Disney Channel.

]]>55513Some of the Most Clever Easter Eggs in Video Games - With Spring upon us, check out some of the best Easter Eggs in video games.http://ninertimes.com/2017/04/some-of-the-most-clever-easter-eggs-in-video-games/
Mon, 17 Apr 2017 00:58:24 +0000http://ninertimes.com/?p=55490Bad Dates – “Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End”

There is no denying that “Uncharted” drew inspiration from the “Indiana Jones” franchise, and this moment in Nathan Drake’s final adventure pays tribute to the first film. The Easter Egg comes when Nathan Drake and his brother Sam are searching for the pirate Captain Avery’s grave on an island in Scotland. After one grave that has the correct symbol but dates that don’t match up with Avery, Nathan simply states “Nope, bad dates” to which Sam replies with a chuckle. This is a reference to when Indy and Sallah are discussing where to dig for the Ark of The Covenant and Indy tosses a date up in the air to eat only to have Sallah catch it and remark “Bad dates” while motioning to the dead monkey who ate one of the poisoned fruits. This reference goes by quickly in game, and even fans who have seen the film may not catch the sudden quip.

Dr. Halsey’s Laboratory – “Halo Reach”

“Halo Reach” was developer Bungie’s last release in the “Halo” franchise, and this Easter Egg served as a tribute to the community that had been following the series throughout the years. Reaching the secret room is a challenge, as you must play a certain level of the campaign and hit a switch outside of the maps boundaries with the use of a jet pack. Once this is done, you then must face seven golden elites armed with energy swords who come out of the hidden door which leads to the lab. Inside the lab, players will find logs written by Dr. Halsey on various topics in the “Halo” community, including the “Red vs. Blue” series from Rooster Teeth. You can also find her opinion on the popular video “Warthog Jump” and the various charity events that the company ran for Hurricane Katrina and the Haiti earthquake. There is a lot more hidden in the lab for players to find, and it all served as the perfect thank you from Bungie for the support given to them by the community over the years.

Rat Man’s Secret Rooms – “Portal” Series

Screenshot courtesy of Valve Corporation

The “Portal” series is filled with mystery and secrets all throughout; most of them having to do with Rat Man’s hidden rooms. Rat Man was a scientist at Aperture labs who survived Gladdos’ toxic gassing of the facility, leaving him to hide in various locations of the test chambers. Throughout both games you can find these hideouts and his random graffiti on the walls as he slowly went mad, though you never see the man himself. The rooms themselves are a bit creepy and serve as a larger backstory and mystery for the series, even leading to a comic for the character. One of his scribbles became famous among internet culture as ‘The cake is a lie: quote referring to the cake that Gladdos promises at various moments in the first game.

Yes, Calendar Man is a real villain. He makes his debut appearance in “Batman Arkham City” and presides behind bars under the courthouse. Depending on the day your consoles clock is set to, Calendar Man will remark to Batman based on what ever holiday is on that day. If you set your in-game clock to December 13, 2004 (the day developer Rocksteady was founded), Calendar Man will hint that he will be there when Batman is at his end, which he holds up in “Batman Arkham Knight,” where you can see him at the end of the game outside Wayne Manor if you 100% the story. This moment is when Bruce appears to die in an explosion at his family manor after having to reveal his identity to Gotham and execute the Nightfall Protocol.

Created by Warren Robinett – “Adventure”

Screenshot courtesy of Atari

I’d be remiss not to include the first ever video game Easter Egg; coming from the game simply named “Adventure” for the Atari 2600. The Easter Egg was found by taking a gray pixel to a certain area on the map, revealing the secret message “Created by Warren Robinett,” one of the main developers on the game who kept it a secret from the rest of the team. The Easter Egg is a simple one, but it helped to pave the way for many clever ones for years after.

]]>55490Ratman_Den2Screenshot courtesy of Valve CorporationAdventureScreenshot courtesy of AtariGAMING REVIEW: ‘Lego City Undercover’ - "Lego City Undercover" brings together Lego asthetics and "GTA" style gameplay and world design for a game that is a blast to play for any age.http://ninertimes.com/2017/04/gaming-review-lego-city-undercover/
Thu, 13 Apr 2017 12:00:34 +0000http://ninertimes.com/?p=55343After coming off of the incredibly detailed “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild,” I expected a bit of a drop in quality with “Lego City Undercover.” Not to say I thought the game would be bad, it’s just easy to compare two open world games when coming right off of one another. Needless to say, I was surprised at how deep “Lego City Undercover” was for a “Lego” game. The game follows Chase McCain, an ex-cop called back in to put the criminal Rex Fury back behind bars. The game hints at why Chase left the force because of Rex years prior, leaving the player with a mystery right from the get-go. While the story sounds serious, it still sticks with the quirky and slapstick humor everyone has come to expect with “Lego” games.

If you have ever played a “Lego” title before, then this game will feel familiar in a few ways but changes things quite drastically in some areas. The biggest of these is the big open-world that serves as a bit of a hub world for each level, although this one is packed with puzzles and secrets for players to find as they travel. “GTA” is an obvious influence for this game, allowing players to drive any vehicle on the map across the landscape that draws inspiration from New York City and San Francisco. The map also features a sort of woodland area, a nice break from the city area similar to “GTA V.”

The combat also differs from other games in the “Lego” series, focusing on taking down criminals then cuffing them, as opposed to simply hitting them four times then breaking into pieces. The driving is pretty fun as well, though it takes some getting used to at the start. As you progress you unlock more costumes which grant certain abilities, allowing you to reach areas you might not have been able to reach before. There are a load of collectibles to find much like “GTA,” gold bricks being the primary items to locate, coming in at a grand total of 450. While the Wii U version was strictly single-player, this re-release allows another player to join in on the mayhem as well.

Screenshot courtesy of Traveller’s Tales

Like mentioned previously, the game feels very much like an 70s or 80s cop film or TV show. It riffs on many of the tropes found in the media and even outright references some of them. Heck, the game even has a catchy theme that sounds like it was pulled right out of 1975. My favorite moment comes early on when Dirty Harry himself appears and states his iconic “six shots or five” line, although this time he is referring to coffee. This goes great with the familiar “Lego” humor, which helps to make this game one that nearly any age will enjoy playing.

When the game first came out for Wii U in 2013, many critics applauded the game but found fault with the ridiculous load times when entering various levels. As I played the game on Nintendo Switch, I found that while the load times were better, they were still not quite up to snuff for what is essentially a four year old game. I also found that the frame-rate, while not detrimental to my enjoyment of the game, was not very stable in object-heavy areas outside of your typical levels. This issue was much more prevalent while the game was undocked on the Switch, though as it went on, it got a bit better and I seemed to get more used to it as I progressed. While the “Lego” games have never been known for mind-blowing graphics, I was still disappointed that some of the issues remained even after four years.

Technical issues aside, “Lego City Undercover” is a charming game with a lot of things to love in it even after four years. I would not recommend buying it now for the full $60 price tag, but as time passes and sales begin to pop up, I would definitely pull the trigger then. “Lego City Undercover” is able to make an enticing game with a nostalgic setting, and one that players will no doubt get many hours of enjoyment from.

]]>55343Lego City UndercoverScreenshot courtesy of Traveller's TalesGaming Roundup: April 2017 - April provides an assortment of titles for players to enjoy from a new survival-horror title to a nostalgic trip back to the golden age of 3D platformers.http://ninertimes.com/2017/04/gaming-roundup-april-2017/
Fri, 07 Apr 2017 14:00:15 +0000http://ninertimes.com/?p=55161“Lego City Undercover” – April 4 for Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One and PC

Screenshot courtesy of Traveller’s Tales

Lego’s take on the “GTA” series, “Lego City Undercover” gives an open city to explore with surprising depth for a “Lego” game. The game originally launched as a “Wii U” exclusive, though this new version will release for all current-gen consoles and brings along co-op play, as well as improved load times, one of the few complaints of the game when it first released. It’s also worth noting that the Nintendo Switch version of the game will still contain the Nintendo easter eggs featured in the “Wii U” version. You can also expect the same slapstick humor that is prevalent in most “Lego” games, helping to make this game enjoyable for all ages. Players will be able to get their hands on “Lego City Undercover” when it releases on April 4 for PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC.

“Yooka-Laylee” – April 11 for PS4, Xbox One and PC

Screenshot courtesy of Playtonic Games

From some of the developers of “Banjo-Kazooie,” this indie game makes a return to the Nintendo 64 style platformer. “Yooka-Laylee” draws heavy inspiration from the aforementioned game, bringing a large sense of nostalgia for the fans who have been longing for a new entry in the genre. There are five worlds to play in, much bigger than the levels from the 64 era, as well as a variety of abilities to gain that help to unlock more areas in each world. While the Nintendo Switch version is slated for later in the year, players looking for a trip down memory lane will have their chance when the game releases on April 11 for PS4, Xbox One and PC.

“Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series” – April 18 for PS4, Xbox One and PC

Screenshot courtesy of Telltale Games

After wrapping up a series focused around “Batman,” Telltale Games takes a crack at a Marvel property with the “Guardians of the Galaxy.” While it will not be set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the series looks to be taking a lot of cues from the films, such as its music and the group’s appearance. The series will follow the traditional five episode format and based off of the studios past work on “Tales from the Borderlands,” it will likely be strong in the comedic area. Marvel fans will have their chance to mold their own story when the first episode of “Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series” releases on April 18 for PS4, Xbox One and PC.

“Outlast 2” – April 25 for PS4, Xbox One and PC

Screenshot courtesy of Red Barrels

A sequel to what is probably my favorite survival-horror game, “Outlast 2” leaves behind the asylum and takes the series to a much more open setting. The story follows a couple’s search for clues on the murder of a young woman in the Sonoran Desert, only to be separated when their helicopter crashes. After coming across a crazed cult, the only tool you have is the night vision on your camera, which means your only chance to survive is to run or flee. Gamers looking to not sleep for weeks will have their chance when the game releases on April 25 for PS4, Xbox One and PC.

“Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” – April 28 for Nintendo Switch

Screenshot courtesy of Nintendo

Topping off the month is a port of “Mario Kart 8” to the Switch, which brings new features to an already excellent game. “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe” comes with all of the DLC from the original game including the “Animal Crossing” and “Zelda” themed packs. As opposed to playing battle mode on regular tracks, all new courses have been added specifically for the mode itself as well. Fans can finally take the kart racer on the go when it releases on April 28, exclusively for Nintendo Switch.